Role of plasma levels of CA-125 in predicting outcome of primary PCI after acute myocardial infarction in male patients

Introduction: Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is a tumor marker of ovarian cancer, which has shown to be increased in different cardiovascular diseases. Although the prognostic role of CA-125 in heart failure and coronary heart disease is well-established, there is little known about its role in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this study we aimed to evaluate the serum levels of CA-125 in patients with AMI and its prognostic role in evaluating the in-hospital outcome of AMI.
Methods: We evaluated 120 male patients with AMI and 120 male normal subjects. CA-125 levels were measured upon the patient’s admission to hospital. The in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and its predictors were also recorded for AMI patients.
Results: CA-125 levels were significantly higher in AMI patients compared to normal subjects (7.99±6.83 vs. 5.70±4.62, P = 0.003). We found significant positive correlations between CA-125 levels with creatine kinase-MB (CKMB) (r=0.621, P < 0.001) and CTnI (r=0.491, P < 0.001). The in-hospital MACE was observed in 19 cases (15.8%). Patients with MACE had significantly higher value of CA-125, CKMB and CTnI and lower LVEF compared to patients without MACE. CKMB (OR=0.967, 95% CI [0.943-0.991], P = 0.007) and CA-125 levels (OR=0.821, 95% CI [0.688-0.979], P = 0.02) were independent predictors of MACE.
Conclusion: Serum CA-125 levels are significantly higher in male patients with AMI compared to normal subjects and have a significant role in predicting in-hospital MACE after AMI. In patients with higher CA-125 more aggressive treatment and close observation should be performed in order to reduce the possible adverse outcomes.