Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Acute myocardial infarction induces an inflammatory reaction. We related conventional inflammatory parameters including C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cell count and axillary temperature to plasma concentrations of procalcitonin in patients with acute myocardial infarction. In a prospective-descriptive study, we evaluated 54 patients with acute myocardial infarction. ⋯ Conventional inflammatory parameters were all significantly increased even in the absence of cardiac and non-cardiac complications of acute myocardial infarction. In conclusion, procalcitonin increases in patients with acute myocardial infarction only if associated with severe left heart failure, resuscitation after cardiac arrest or in the presence of bacterial infections. Thus, procalcitonin may help to elucidate the etiology of systemic inflammatory response during the early course of acute myocardial infarction.