Objective: To investigate the effect of unfitrate heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on the expression of serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Methods: Seventy patients with chronic unstable angina pectoris were divided into 2 groups: PCI group (n = 49, with at least one main coronary artery branch with stenosis > or = 70%) and non-PCI group (n = 21, with the main coronary artery branch with stenosis < 70%). UFH was used at the beginning of coronary angiography in both groups and LMWH was used after PCI only in the PCI group. The serum level of HGF was measured before, during, and 1 and 7 days after PCI; and cardiac troponin 1 (cTnI) was measured before and 1 day after PCI in all 70 patients.
Results: The serum level of HGF of the PCI group increased during and immediately after PCI (12 322 +/- 3723 ng/L and 13 566 +/- 3767 ng/L respectively), both significantly higher than that before the procedure (1736 +/- 604 ng/L, both P < 0.0001), The serum level of HGF of the non-PCI group increased during and immediately after the procedure (10 928 +/- 2196 ng/L and 11 457 +/- 2298 ng/L respectively), both significantly higher than that before the procedure (967 +/- 349 ng/L, both P < 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in the HGF levels during and after the procedure between the PCI and non-PCI groups. The serum HGF returned to the normal level 24 h after the procedure in both groups. The serum GHF 7 days after the procedure of the cTnI (-) PCI group was significantly lower than that before the procedure (P < 0.01), however, the serum GHF 7 days after the procedure of the cTnI (+) PCI group remained relatively high, not significantly different from that before the procedure.
Conclusion: There is an enhanced secretion of cardiac HGF in the patients with severe coronary artery disease. UFH promotes the release of serum HGF in the patients with chronic unstable angina pectoris undergoing PCI, which indicates some other biological effects in addition to its anticoagulant property. The delayed fall of serum HGF after PCI has relationship with minor myocardial infarction.