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Increased Rho kinase activity predicts worse cardiovascular outcome in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
Xiaohui Li, Xing Wu, Hongwei Li
1Capital Medical University. hxfriend@163.com.
Insights
Rho kinase 1 (ROCK1) activity is elevated in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Increased ROCK1 activity predicts cardiovascular events in these high-risk patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biochemistry
- Diabetology
Background:
- Limited research exists on Rho kinase (ROCK) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
- Assessing ROCK activity in circulating leukocytes may reveal insights into cardiovascular risk in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if Rho kinase (ROCK) activity is elevated in leukocytes of STEMI patients with DM.
- To determine if ROCK activity can predict future cardiovascular events in STEMI patients with DM.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were analyzed from 60 STEMI patients, categorized into non-diabetes mellitus (NDM) and DM groups.
- Follow-up data on all-cause mortality, readmission for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), congestive heart failure (CHF), or stroke were collected for approximately 5 years.
Main Results:
- ROCK1 activity was significantly higher in the DM group compared to the NDM group (p=0.021).
- Elevated ROCK1 activity on admission was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of cardiovascular events.
- A history of stroke also significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular events.
Conclusions:
- ROCK1 activity is elevated in STEMI patients with DM.
- ROCK1 activity serves as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for cardiovascular events in STEMI patients with DM.
- ROCK1 activity can help identify STEMI patients at particularly high risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Background:
Few clinical studies have assessed Rho kinase (ROCK) in patients with dia-betes mellitus (DM) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study aimed to determine whether ROCK activity in circulating leukocytes is increased in STEMI patients with DM and whether ROCK activity predicts the onset of cardiovascular events.
Methods:
Blood samples were collected from 60 STEMI patients, divided into non-diabetes mellitus (NDM) and DM groups. Main outcome measures were all-cause mortality, readmission for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), congestive heart failure (CHF), or stroke from pres-entation to approximately 5 years (mean: 41.3 ± 19.6 months; range: 3-60 months).
Results:
Compared with the NDM group (n = 34), ROCK1 activity was greater in the DM group (n = 26) (33.14 ± 11.31 vs. 26.24 ± 11.06, p = 0.021), while ROCK2 activity was not different between the groups. There occurred 3 deaths, and 10 readmissions with ACS, 4 with CHF and 2 with stroke during the follow-up period. Patients with a high ROCK1 activity on admission had a 3-fold risk of cardiovascular events (RR 3.15, 95% CI 1.04-9.58) compared with those with low ROCK1 activity. Patients with history of stroke had almost a 4-fold risk of cardiovascular events (RR 3.74; 95% CI 1.02-13.80).
Conclusions:
ROCK1 activity was increased in STEMI patients with DM, which suggests that ROCK1 activity may be a useful diagnostic and prognostic marker of cardiovascular events for these patients. ROCK1 activity might help identify a subset of STEMI patients at particularly high risk.
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