Role of tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-alpha) in acute myocardial infarction

According to increasing prevalence of myocardial infarction (MI) and importance of detecting inflammatory markers, and also controversies in this topic, this trial was performed in Taleghani hospital to define the role of TNF-alpha in patients with myocardial infarction during 2010-2011. This case-control study was done on patient with definite diagnosis of myocardial infarction admitted in the hospital (case group, n=20) and persons with no cardiac problems referred to this hospital for check up (control group, n=20). Serum levels of TNF-alpha were checked by ELISA method and the two groups were compared by T-test. Participants were divided to two groups of more and less than 9.5pg/mL and analyzed by exact Fisher test. Mean serum level of TNF-alpha in the control group was 9.5±0.7pg/ml and in the case group 12.8±2pg/ml (P<0.001). 12 (60 percent) subjects of control group and all (100 percent) patients of case group had TNF-alpha mare than 9.5pg/mL (P<0.001). it seems that serum level of TNF-alpha in patients with myocardial infarction is higher than controls. Regarding important role of inflammation in the development of atherosclerosis, cohort or experimental studies are recommended to evaluate role of this marker in predicting ischemic heart diseases. Keywords:ELISA, TNF-alpha, MI.