Clinical research
Adrenomedullin concentrations at two time points following myocardial infarction and prediction of mid-term outcomes

Introduction : Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a vasopeptide with multiple actions in the cardiovascular system and a potentially powerful tool in comparison to some of the well-established unimodal biomarkers of risk stratification in myocardial infarction (MI). Previous studies on ADM in acute MI were based on single assessment. Therefore the aim of the study was to examine the relation between ADM plasma concentrations assessed at different time points following MI and outcomes.

Material and methods: The study included 127 patients with acute MI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention and 60 healthy individuals as controls. Adrenomedullin concentration was assessed at baseline in all study subjects and 48 h after admission in patients with MI. The primary endpoint consisted of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke and the need of target vessel revascularization at 6-month follow-up.

Results : Mean ADM plasma concentration on admission was higher in patients with MI than in controls (30.3 ±14.3 pmol/l vs. 14.6 ±4.7 pmol/l, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between ADM concentration after 48 h (30.6 ±12.3 pmol/l) and on admission. The primary endpoint occurred in 9.4% of patients with MI. Multivariable analysis showed that ADM concentration at 48 h after admission (OR = 2.121, 95% CI 1.180-3.810 for every increase of 10 pmol/l, p = 0.012) was the only independent predictor of the primary endpoint.

Conclusions : In patients with acute MI adrenomedullin plasma concentration assessed at 48 h after admission, but not ADM concentration at baseline, is an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events at mid-term follow-up.