ABSTRACT

The aim was to evaluate the levels of serum pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and the efficiency of making a diagnosis and to estimate the prognosis in patients with chest pain.

The study was conducted in the Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medicine School Emergency Department. Patients who had chest pain and met the inclusion criteria were accepted. They were divided into the following groups: acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a diagnosis other than ACS (non-ACS), and control. The patients in theACS and non-ACS groups were divided into five sub-group -groups: ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Non- ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI), Unstable Angina Pectoris (USAP), stable angina, and pulmonary embolus. For all patients, serum PTX-3, serum NGAL, troponin I, and creatine kinase-MB fraction (CK-MB) levels were measured.

There were 199 patients in the ACS and non-ACS groups and 30 patientsin the control group. There was no significant difference among the study groups in terms of age and PTX-3 and NGAL levels. When comparing survival and non-survival in terms of in-hospital death, CK-MB and troponin I levels were significantly higher in the ACS and non-ACS groups than in the control groups, whereas there was no significant difference in terms of PTX-3 and NGAL levels.

The results of our study demonstrated that PTX-3 and NGAL are not effective biomarkers in the differential diagnosis and the determination of in-hospital mortality in ACS. However, the limitations of the study should be considered. The results confirmed that CK-MB and Troponin I can be safely used in the differential diagnosis and the prediction of mortality.

Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome, biomarker, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, pentraxin-3