High Levels of Serum Adipocyte Fatty Acid-binding Protein Predict Cardiovascular Events in Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Background: Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) is a cardiometabolic predictor of cardiovascular (CV) disease in humans. We evaluated the association between serum A-FABP levels and future CV events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: A total of 106 CAD patients were enrolled in this study between January and December 2012 and were followed-up until June 30, 2017. The primary endpoint was the incidence of major adverse CV events. Results: During a median follow-up period of 53 months, 44 CV events occurred. Patients with CV events presented higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.020), total serum cholesterol (p = 0.047), and serum A-FABP levels (p < 0.001) compared with patients without CV events. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative incidence of CV events in the high A-FABP group (median A-FABP concentration of >17.63 ng/mL) was higher than that in the low A-FABP group (log-rank p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that triglycerides (hazard ratio (HR): 1.008, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.001-1.016, p = 0.026) and serum A-FABP levels (HR: 1.027, 95% CI: 1.009-1.047, p = 0.004) were independently associated with CV events. Conclusion: Serum A-FABP level is a biomarker for future CV events in patients with CAD. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the mechanisms underlying this association.