Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to detect any relationship between serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum amyloid-associated protein (SAA) and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, and reversible myocardial ischaemia during cardiovascular exercise tests and to determine whether these biomarkers could predict transient myocardial ischaemia. METHODS: Ninety-six patients (36 women, 60 men, mean age 57 ± 8.5 years) were included in the study. Venous blood samples were taken from patients before and 15 minutes after exercise testing. SAA and hs-CRP were analysed using immunonephelometric assays (Dade-Behring, BN II, Marburg, Germany). NT-proBNP (pg/ml) was determined using the immulite 1 000 chemiluminescence immunoassay system (Siemens Medical Solution Diagnostics, Deerfiled, USA). Forty-eight patients (18 women, 30 men) with positive exercise tests were allocated to the exercise-positive group and 48 (18 women, 30 men) with negative exercise tests were put in the exercise-negative group. Coronary angiography was performed on all patients in the exercise-positive group. RESULTS: There was no difference between the levels of hs-CRP, SAA and NT-pro-BNP before and after exercise testing in both of the exercise groups. CONCLUSION: Serum levels of hs-CRP, SAA and NT-proBNP could not predict the occurrence of reversible myocardial ischaemia during exercise. Large-scale clinical studies are needed to clarify the status of hs-CRP, SAA and NT-proBNP with exercise.