Prognostic value of serum hepatocyte growth factor in patients with acute coronary syndromes

The present study examined whether or not hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a n endothelium-specific growth factor that stimulates regeneration of the en dothelium, is increased or has a prognostic significance in patients with a cute coronary syndromes. HGF was measured in 106 patients with coronary art ery disease (20 stable effort angina, 12 unstable angina without adverse ev ents, 24 unstable angina with adverse events and 50 acute myocardial infarc tion) on admission and 21 normal volunteers. The measurements in all patien ts were recorded before administration of heparin, and in acute myocardial infarction patients they were recorded from days 2 to 6 after heparin disco ntinuation 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 ang ina patients without adverse events, 0.40+/-0.20 for unstable angina patien ts with adverse events and in acute myocardial infarction patients they wer e 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 predi ctor of adverse events in patients with acute coronary syndromes.