MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Mette Bjerre, Associate Professor, PhD Medical Research Laboratory Aarhus University Hospital & Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Dr.Bjerre: Recently, a connection between bone regulatory proteins and vascular biology has attracted attention, suggesting osteoprotegerin (OPG), a secreted glycoprotein that regulates bone resorption, as a possible mediator of vascular calcification. Indeed, we and others has shown that high levels of circulating OPG predicts long-term outcome in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the mechanism remains poorly understood. In order to elucidate the role of OPG in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI), our study aimed to evaluate the progression of OPG levels, in four consecutive blood-samples obtained pre-PCI, post-PCI, day 1 and day 2. OPG levels did indeed change during treatment. OPG levels peaked post-PCI and then decreased; mean concentrations (95% confidence interval) pre-PCI 2650ng/L (2315-3036ng/L), post-PCI 2778ng/L (2442-3363ng/L), day 1 2024ng/L (1775-2306ng/L) and day 2 1808ng/L (1551-2106), (repeated measures ANOVA, F=33.192, p<0.001). Additional, high OPG level is independently associated with impaired LVEF (LVEF < 40%). Adjustment for BMI and traditional cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and current smoking) did not significantly impact the association between OPG response and reduced LVEF. (more…)