The impact of admission C-reactive protein levels on the development of no-reflow phenomenon after primary PCI in patients with acute myocardial infarction: The role of inflammation

The role of admission CRP levels on the prediction of poor myocardial perfusion grades after percutaneous coronary interventiin (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been clearly elucidated. Dynamic nature of acute coronary syndromes is usually associated with spontaneous ischemia-reperfusion injury in infarct related artery. So we considered that poor myocardial perfusion after primary PCI is not only related to procedural factors and clinical characteristics of the patients but may also be related to microvascular damage starting before coronary intervention. We suggested that CRP mediated complement activation and neutrophil plugging may be the factors contributing to the development of microvascular damage in patients with AMI. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.