Abstract
The present study examined whether or not hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), an endothelium-specific growth factor that stimulates regeneration of the endothelium, is increased or has a prognostic significance in patients with acute coronary syndromes. HGF was measured in 106 patients with coronary artery disease (20 stable effort angina, 12 unstable angina without adverse events, 24 unstable angina with adverse events and 50 acute myocardial infarction) on admission and 21 normal volunteers. The measurements in all patients were recorded before administration of heparin, and in acute myocardial infarction patients they were recorded from days 2 to 6 after heparin discontinuation on day 1. HGF levels (ng/ml) were 0.30±0.06 for the controls, 0.31±0.08 for stable effort angina patients, 0.31±0.08 for unstable angina patients without adverse events, 0.40±0.20 for unstable angina patients with adverse events and in acute myocardial infarction patients they were 0.45±0.18 on day 0, 0.57±0.45 on day 2, 0.50±0.35 on day 3, 0.48±0.32 on day 4, 0.44±0.20 on day 5, and 0.38±0.14 on day 6. HGF plays a crucial role in the restoration of injured endothelial cells and is a predictor of adverse events in patients with acute coronary syndromes. (Jpn Circ J 1999; 63: 583 -588)
