Correlations of Circulating Cell-Free DNA With Clinical Manifestations in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

The objective of the study was to examine the potential use of circulating cell free DNA (cfDNA) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and correlate it with clinical features. Serial monitoring was conducted to assess any associations to disease.Quantification of cfDNA was performed on 130 cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients as well as 30 healthy volunteers. Serial samplings were conducted using PicoGreen dsDNA assay. Of the 130 patients with CVD, 100 had an AMI and measurements were taken during treatment. Short and medium intervals serial sampling of patients' blood were undertaken.The results were highly correlative of CVD disease status. The mean concentration of cfDNA in patients with AMI was 5 folds higher during the onset of disease compared with healthy volunteers. The cfDNA content was also higher than other patients with CVD. Interestingly, short term monitoring of patients with AMI showed distinct trends that highlighted the severity of the disease and linked to complication events. Medium term monitoring showed 2 distinctive groups with 1 that had their cfDNA returned to basal levels and the other with persistently elevated cfDNA levels.Measuring cfDNA in patients with CVD offers an alternative approach to monitor the disease and has potential clinical applications to identify high-risk individuals.