Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-a, a marker for outcome in patients suspected for acute coronary syndrome

Objectives: To examine if pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in patients with chest pain, could identify patients at risk for death or myocardial infarction. Design and methods: Patients admitted with chest pain and both normal ECG and normal biomarkers were evaluated by serial measurement of PAPP-A. Main outcome measures were mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction. Results: Median age of patients included (415) was 67 years and 43% were women. The risk of death or nonfatal myocardial infarction after 3 months was 15% in the highest quartile of circulating PAPP-A compared with 3% in the lowest quartile (relative risk 3.7, p<0.01). Corresponding numbers after 1 year were 24% and 10% (relative risk 2.4, p = 0.01). Conclusion: In patients admitted with chest pain and both normal ECG and normal biomarkers PAPP-A seems to be valuable for predicting patients at high risk of death or non-fatal myocardial infarction. (c) 2010 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.