Study on significance of detection of serum level of matrix metalloproteinases ( MMP - 9) in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Objective To explore the significance of serum level of MMP-9 in patients with ACS,and to evaluate the relationship between serum level of MMP-9 and the severity of coronary artery lesion.Methods Forty patients with acute coronary syndrome(ACS group) and 40 patients with stable angina pectoris(SAP group) diagnosed by coronary angiography and 40 normal persons(control group) were involved in this study.The plasma level of MMP-9 was examined by ELISA.The number of coronary artery lesions and Gensini scores were recorded at the same time.Finally the correlation analysis was carried out between them and serum level of MMP-9.Results Serum level of MMP-9 in patients of ACS group was significantly higher than that of patients in SAP group(P 0.05),and the serum level of MMP-9 in patients of SAP group was higher than that of normal controls(P 0.05).The serum level of MMP-9 had positive correlation with the number of coronary artery lesions(r = 0.64,P 0.05) and Gensini scores(r = 0.78,P 0.01).Conclusion The plasma level of MMP-9 in patients of ACS group was obviously elevated.The examination of serum level of MMP-9 may be helpful in diagnosis of ACS and it can also reflect the severity of stenosis in coronary arteries.