Erythropoietin, Hemoglobin and Endothelial Progenitor Cell Levels in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

We investigated whether changes in plasmatic erythropoietin (Epo) levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) reflect changes in hemoglobin (Hb) levels. We studied plasma Epo levels and their relation with Hb and endothelial progenitors in patients with AMI and in patients with unstable angina (UAP). Seventeen AMI patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 6h of symptom onset and five UAP patients hospitalized for suspected AMI were studied. Epo, Hb and endothelial progenitors were investigated on hospital admission and every day after AMI, up to day 6. Plasma Epo concentration significantly increased in the days after AMI and the level at day 3-4 was significantly higher in the AMI than in the UAP group. In AMI patients we observed significant correlations between ΔEpo and ΔHB, ΔEpo and CK-MB peak levels; importantly, ΔEpo levels were significantly higher in AMI patients with compromised left ventricular function (LVEF<40), compared to those with normal or slightly reduced LVEF (LVEF>40). The number of endothelial progenitors was higher in patients with LVEF>40 than in those with LVEF<40.