OBJECTIVES: Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional protein associated with vascular injury and has been linked to atherosclerosis and inflammation. We sought to investigate whether OPN changes in relation to coronary artery by-pass grafting (CABG) surgery. DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied 50 consecutive patients (63 ± 10 years old, 6 women and 44 men) undergoing elective CABG. Plasma OPN levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline and in 24 and 72 h, post-operatively. Cardiac enzymes - creatine kinase, the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase, troponin-I- and C-reactive protein (CRP) were also determined at all three time points. RESULTS: OPN levels 72 h post-op decreased significantly compared to pre-op and 24h post-op levels (p<0.001) whereas there was no difference between the pre-op and first post-op values (p=0.57). The relative change in OPN levels between pre-op and 72 h post-op correlated negatively with absolute troponin-I levels at 72 h post-op (-0.51, p=0.005). OPN levels 72 h post-op correlated significantly with CRP at baseline (r=0.73, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: OPN plasma concentrations decreased after CABG surgery in the early post-operative period. The significance of this observation needs further investigation.
OBJECTIVES:Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional protein associated with vascular injury and has been linked to atherosclerosis and inflammation. We sought to investigate whether OPN changes in relation to coronary artery by-pass grafting (CABG) surgery. DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied 50 consecutive patients (63 ± 10 years old, 6 women and 44 men) undergoing elective CABG. Plasma OPN levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline and in 24 and 72 h, post-operatively. Cardiac enzymes - creatine kinase, the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase, troponin-I- and C-reactive protein (CRP) were also determined at all three time points. RESULTS:OPN levels 72 h post-op decreased significantly compared to pre-op and 24h post-op levels (p<0.001) whereas there was no difference between the pre-op and first post-op values (p=0.57). The relative change in OPN levels between pre-op and 72 h post-op correlated negatively with absolute troponin-I levels at 72 h post-op (-0.51, p=0.005). OPN levels 72 h post-op correlated significantly with CRP at baseline (r=0.73, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS:OPN plasma concentrations decreased after CABG surgery in the early post-operative period. The significance of this observation needs further investigation.