Abstract
Inflammation is essential for atherogenesis, and many inflammatory markers have been analyzed for their association with short- and long-term outcome in patients with manifestations of coronary artery disease. C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels increase in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). CPR is an important prognostic marker in ACS. Although CRP will remain over time a useful marker, the role and implications of increased plasma concentrations of other acute phase proteins (APPs), such as alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT), alpha-1 glycoprotein (A1GP), haptoglobin (HG), ceruloplasmin (CP), and C3c and C4 complement fraction, in patients with ACS are still not completely defined. Controversy is the role of statins and other drugs on inflammatory markers. This review summarizes the experimental and clinical evidence regarding the role, and the biological and clinical significance of these APPs in ACS. Furthermore, biological and clinical significance of Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a member of the pentraxin superfamily, are discussesed.
Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome, acute myocardial infarction, acute phase reactants, acute phase proteins, atherosclerosis, inflammation-sensitive plasma proteins
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