[Cytokine and acute phase inflammation reactant levels in men with myocardial infarction]

The role of cytokines, their putative transporters, and other acute phase reactants was studied in 17 men aged 57.2 +/- 9.6 yr with microfocal myocardial infarction (MI) and in 21 ones with macrofocal MI. Control group comprised 30 age-matched men. Diagnosis of MI was confirmed by traditional functional tests and laboratory methods. It was shown that levels of TNF-alpha and MG-PL transport complexes were elevated regardless of MI type whereas acute phase reactants increased only in patients with macrofocal MI These patients also had enhanced IL-6 and IL-8 levels with gradual normalization of the former. In microfocal IM, IL-8 increased only by day 14. Inhibitory action of TNF-alpha appears to be insufficient to suppress effect of macrofocal IM but may be responsible for its selective effect on acute phase reactants. The above differences can be used as additional criteria for differential diagnosis of micro- and macrofocal MI especially in patients with repeated MI or His bundle block when traditional ECG data are of poor informative value.