Association of CD40 ligand levels in the culprit coronary arteries with subsequent prognosis of acute myocardial infarction

Objective: CD40 ligand (CD40L) plays a crucial role in atherogenesis and plaque destabilization. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association of CD40L levels in the culprit coronary arteries (CA) with the subsequent cardiovascular events in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: We enrolled 68 patients with AMI whose CA were treated using thrombectomy devices. Blood samples were collected from the peripheral veins (PV), the ascending aortae (AO) and CA.

Results: CD40L levels in the CA were significantly greater than those in the PV and AO. Statistical analyses revealed that CD40L levels in CA correlated positively with the corrected TIMI frame counts and maximal serum creatine kinase-MB in throughout clinical course, and inversely with myocardial blush grade and left ventricular ejection fraction 6 months after AMI. In logistic regression analyses, the group with high CD40L levels in CA was associated with an 8.58-fold increase in the odds of a cardiovascular event rate compared with the group with low CD40L levels.

Conclusions: In patients with AMI, enhanced CD40L levels in CA might affect myocardial perfusion, myocardial damage, and subsequent cardiovascular events, and could be a predictive marker for the prognosis of AMI.