Serum metabolite profiling of ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction using liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Abstract ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is one of the most common global causes of cardiovascular disease‐related death. Several metabolites may change during STEMI. Hence, analysis of metabolites in body fluid may be considered as a rapid and accurate test for initial diagnosis. This study has therefore attempted to determine the variation in metabolites identified in the serum of STEMI patients ( n = 20) and 15 controls. Samples collected from the Cardiology Department, Medical Faculty, Ataturk University, were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction and analysed using liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. The METLIN database was used for the identification and characterization of metabolites. According to Q‐TOF/MS measurements, 231 m/z values, which were significantly different between groups ( P < 0.01 and fold analysis >1.5) were detected. Metabolite identification was achieved via the Human Metabolome database. According to the multivariate data analysis, leucine, isoleucine, l ‐proline, l ‐alanine, glycine, fumaric acid, citrate, succinate and carnitine levels were decreased, whereas levels of propionic acid, maleic acid, butyric acid, urea, oleic acid, palmitic acid, lysoPC [18:2(9 Z )], glycerol, phoshpatidylethanolamine, caffeine and l ‐lactic acid were increased in STEMI patients compared with controls. In conclusion, malonic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid and palmitic acid can be used as biomarkers for early risk stratification of patients with STEMI.