A total of 40 patients with AMI, 40 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 40 patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 40 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Serum high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and APN levels were determined and compared in all patients and healthy subjects. The AMI patients were classified into high APN group and low APN group according to the median of APN levels, and the occurrence of major cardiovascular events were compared between the 2 groups.

Serum levels of APN decreased in turn among healthy subjects and patients with SAP, UAP and AMI. The levels of hs-CRP and cTnI sequentially increased in these subjects. Correlation analysis showed that APN in AMI patients was negatively correlated with hs-CRP and cTnI (r=-0.599 and -0.527, P<0.05). The major cardiovascular events in low APN group were significantly more than those in high APN group in the follow-up 12 months (P<0.05).

Serum APN levels in patients with AMI may be associated with the occurrence and development of AMI. Thus, the monitoring of serum APN levels in AMI patients has clinical significance for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of AMI.