Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) predicts post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) myocardial infarction (MI type 4a)

Context: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) related to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (MI type 4a) occurs in up to 26% of elective patients. Objective: To evaluate if sFLT-1 helps to predict MI type 4a in troponin negative patients with elective PCI. Materials and methods: We enrolled 135 patients, 106 had a PCI. sFLT-1 levels were assessed at five time points before and after PCI. Results: MI type 4a occurred in 22.1% of patients. sFLT-1 levels at admission above 251 pg/mL indicated a significant relative risk for MI type 4a of 2.83. Conclusion and discussion: Increased sFLT-1 levels at baseline might indicate unstable atherosclerosis and risk for microembolization and thus be predictive of MI type 4a.