Intermedin and calcitonin gene-related peptide fail to shine in acute coronary syndrome

AimsTo measure levels of intermedin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to determine if they are elevated.Methods and results81 patients admitted with suspected ACS were enrolled into the study. 50 were confirmed ACS by ACC (2000) guidelines and 31 were in a control group as non-cardiac chest pain. Intermedin was non-significantly elevated 6.14 pg/ml vs 4.84 pg/ml < 8 h in the ACS group; sensitivity 68%, specificity 63% on presenting sample. Intermedin was significantly elevated in those patients who had an initially negative troponin T (< 0.03 ng/ml) on presentation, 6.67 pg/ml vs 4.84 pg/ml, p = 0.03.CGRP was significantly elevated in ACS patients, 8–< 16 h after pain onset, 8.67 pg/ml vs 7.08 pg/ml, p = 0.036. However, it didn't aid diagnosis in initially negative troponin patients; sensitivity 61%, specificity 60% on presenting sample. Both intermedin and CGRP were elevated in STEMI patients on a first sample, but only intermedin was significantly elevated; 7.03 pg/ml vs 4.84 pg/ml, p = 0.02 and 8.87 pg/ml vs 7.03 pg/ml p = 0.093, respectively.High sensitivity troponin T was significant elevated in the ACS group at < 8 h (414.9 vs 17.22, p = 0.006) and at 8–< 16 h (3325.27 vs 21.54, p = 0.02).ConclusionsBoth intermedin and CGRP are detectable in human patients. Levels show a trend to elevation in ACS, with CGRP being significantly raised > 8 h after pain onset. The degree of elevation will have limited clinical applicability.