Admission macrophage migration inhibitory factor predicts long-term prognosis in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction

We previously showed in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) that admission levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) predict infarct size. We studied whether admission MIF alone or in combination with other biomarkers is useful for risk assessment of acute and chronic clinical outcomes in STEMI patients. A total of 658 STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were consecutively recruited. MIF level was determined at admission and echocardiography performed on day-3 and then 12 months post-MI. Patients were followed for a median period of 64 months. Major endpoints included ST-segment resolution, all-cause mortality, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). High MIF level was associated with larger enzymatic infarct size, incomplete resolution of ST-segment elevation post-PCI, impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and poorer improvement of LVEF (all P < 0.001). After adjustment for classical risk factors standard biomarkers and day-3 LVEF, admission MIF remained independently prognostic for all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 2.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43–3.22], and MACE (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.12–1.71, both P < 0.05). MIF was a significant additive predictor of all-cause mortality with a net reclassification improvement of 0.34 (P = 0.02). Furthermore, patients in high tertile of both admission MIF and day-3 Nt-proBNP had the highest mortality risk relative to other tertile groups (HR 11.28, 95% CI 4.82–26.94; P < 0.001). STEMI patients with high admission MIF level experienced a poorer recovery of cardiac function and worse long-term adverse outcomes. Combination of Nt-proBNP with MIF further improves prognostic capability.