Prognostic Value of Myeloperoxidase in Patients with Chest Pain

Inflammation is linked to adverse outcomes in acute coronary syndromes. Myeloperoxidase, an abundant leukocyte enzyme, is elevated in culprit lesions that have fissured or ruptured in patients with sudden death from cardiac causes. Numerous lines of evidence suggest mechanistic links between myeloperoxidase and both inflammation and cardiovascular disease.

We assessed the value of plasma levels of myeloperoxidase as a predictor of the risk of cardiovascular events in 604 sequential patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain.

Initial plasma myeloperoxidase levels predicted the risk of myocardial infarction, even in patients who are negative for troponin T (