The usefulness of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the utility of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) for the early diagnosis and prognosis of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients presented with STEMI arrived at the hospital within 45 minutes after the onset of chest pain were included in this study. Blood samples for TWEAK, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB), and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-TnT) levels were obtained at the time of arrival at the hospital. Subsequent samples were drawn at 4 h after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised patients with confirmed STEMI between January 2022 and September 2022, for a total of 45 enrolled STEMI patients. Plasma TWEAK levels were markedly elevated at hospital arrival, followed by a decrease at 4 hours after successful primary percutaneous coronary revascularization (PPCI). High-sensitive troponin T (HsTropT), CK-MB, and CRP were found within normal limits at the hospital arrival. Conversely, increased levels of CRP, CKMB, and hs-TropT were observed at 4 hours after PPCI. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma TWEAK levels were elevated earlier in the acute phase and decreased earlier after PPCI than other classic myocardial biomarkers.

Automated summary

The study suggests that plasma TWEAK levels are elevated earlier in the acute phase and decrease earlier after PPCI in patients with STEMI, compared to other classic myocardial biomarkers.