Serum hepatocyte growth factor in predicting left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction

AIM: To investigate the clinical significance of serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in predicting left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Venous blood samples were obtained at hospital admission and 7 days after in 36 patients with AMI and in 27 control subjects. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) in the subacute (7-10 days) and chronic (3 months) phases was assessed in 26 patients with AMI. Left ventricular remodeling group (n=11) was defined as an increase in LVEDVI 5 ml/m2 in chronic phase relative to the subacute phase. RESULTS: Serum HGF concentrations were higher in newly admitted patients with AMI than those in controls ［(809±288) vs.(620±162) ng/L, P<0.01］ and the difference was more significant on day 7 (1 607±1 355 ng/L) than at admission (P<0.01). HGF concentration on day 7 was higher in the remodeling group than in the nonremodeling group ［(2216±1522） vs.(1176±593) ng/L, P<0.05］, whereas no difference was observed between the groups at admission. CONCLUSION: Serum HGF concentration is elevated in patients with AMI. Elevated serum HGF concentrations on day 7 after AMI may forebode left ventricular remodeling.