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Introduction

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a clinically common cardiovascular disease. Acute myocardial necrosis is caused by persistent ischemia and hypoxia of coronary artery (1). The clinical manifestations of AMI are acute circulatory dysfunction, severe chest pain, increased white blood cell count, ventricular fibrillation, fever, and heart failure. It can usually be divided into transmural and subendocardial myocardial infarction (2). With the continuous improvement of living standards in China, dietary habits are also changing due to the pressure of a fast-paced life and work environment. Thus, the incidence of AMI is high and exhibits a trend towards a younger age group (3). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a preferred method for the treatment of AMI, with the advantages of relative safety, and simplicity. However, ventricular remodeling and inflammation problems after PCI operation often trouble patients (4). Ventricular remodeling refers to the process of changes in left ventricular morphology and tissue structure after AMI, which affects the prognosis of patients after PCI. Inflammation problems after PCI may lead to thrombosis and vascular stenosis, increasing the incidence of cardiovascular events, so it should be highly valued (5). In this study, the ventricular remodeling and inflammatory cytokines in patients with AMI were analyzed by different drug intervention after PCI, in order to provide a reference for the postoperative rehabilitation program.

Patients and methods

General data

A total of 94 patients with AMI admitted to Honggang Hospital of Dongying (Dongying, China) from July 2016 to June 2017 were selected. Inclusion criteria were: i) patients who met the AMI diagnostic criteria (6); ⅱ) all patients who underwent PCI surgery and all operations were successful; and ⅲ) patients who signed the informed consent. Exclusion criteria were: ⅰ) patients accompanied by mental illness; ⅱ) AMI patients who were not treated with PCI; and ⅲ) patients with malignant tumors. The patients were randomly divided into the control group (n=47) and the observation group (n=47). There were no statistically significant differences in general data between the two groups of patients (p>0.05), and the data were comparable (Table I). This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Honggang Hospital of Dongying. Signed informed consents were obtained from the patients or guardians.

Table I. Comparison of general data between the two groups of patients.

Table I.

Comparison of general data between the two groups of patients.

Items	Control group (n=47)	Observation group (n=47)	t/χ2	P-value
Sex (male/female)	25/22	23/24	0.043	0.837
Age (years)	40–80	40–75
Average age (years)	56.36±8.42	56.78±7.57	0.254	0.800
Body mass index (BMI) (Kg/m2)	23.23±1.05	23.56±1.18	1.432	0.155
Onset time (h)	42.83±4.63	43.14±4.28	0.337	0.737
Previous history (n, %)
Hypertension	16 (34.04)	18 (38.30)	0.046	0.830
Hyperlipemia	11 (23.40)	13 (27.66)	0.056	0.813
Diabetes	9 (19.49)	7 (14.89)	0.075	0.784

Methods

Treatment

The patients received PCI, and the patients in the control group were given oral aspirin enteric-coated tablets (Yangtze River Pharm Co., Ltd., Taizhou, China) at a dose of 100 mg, once a day, for 1 year. On the basis of the treatment of the control group, the observation group was given 18 mg captopril (Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.; approval no. NMPN H31022986) per day and 80 mg valsartan (Hunan Qianjin Xiangjiang Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd. (Hunan, China) approval no. NMPN H20103521) per day for 6 consecutive months.

Real-time three-dimensional ultrasonography

After 24 weeks of treatment, ACUSON SC2000 ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (Siemens AG, Munich, Germany) was used to examine the two groups of patients. The 4Z1c volumetric probe (frequency 2.8 MHz) was used. The scanning angle was 90°x90°; the scanning depth was 15–16 cm, and the volume rate was ≥12 frames/sec. The subjects were instructed to take the left-lateral position, and the synchronous lead electrocardiogram was connected to record their electrocardiogram. At the end of expiration, dynamic three-dimensional images of three complete cardiac cycles were collected and stored. Then the related parameters were recorded, including left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end-systolic sphericity index/end-diastolic sphericity index (ESSI/EDSI), systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI), diastolic dyssynchrony index (DDI), dispersion end systole (DISPES), DDI-late and DISPED-late.

Concentration detection of interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)

The concentration levels of IL-6, hs-CRP and TNF-α were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after operation. All relevant kits were provided by Shanghai HaoBen Biotechnology Co., Ltd. In strict accordance with the instructions of the kits, the optical density (OD) value was read at a wavelength of 450 nm with a microplate reader (Elx800; BioTek Instruments, Inc., Winooski, VT, USA), and the concentration levels of IL-6, hs-CRP and TNF-α were calculated.

Evaluation criteria

At 24 weeks after treatment, real-time three-dimensional ultrasonography was performed for two groups of patients. The LVEF, LVEDV, LVESV, EDSI, DDI-late, DISPED-late, ESSI, SDI and DISPES were recorded.

The serum levels of IL-6, hs-CRP and TNF-α in two groups of patients were detected by ELISA at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after operation. The incidence of adverse reactions was compared between the two groups of patients, including severe bleeding, thrombocytopenia, abnormal liver function and gastrointestinal reaction.

Statistical analysis

The data were processed by Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) 19.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) software. The measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (x±s), and detected by t-test. The enumeration data were expressed as rate, and detected by χ2 test. P<0.05 suggested that the difference was statistically significant.

Results

Comparison of cardiac functions between the two groups of patients

After 24 weeks, LVEF in the control group was significantly lower than that in the observation group, while LVEDV, LVESV and the ratio of early diastolic (E) and late diastolic (A) (E/A) in the control group were significantly higher than those in the observation group (p<0.05) (Table II).

Table II. Comparison of cardiac functions between two groups of patients after treatment (x±s).

Table II.

Comparison of cardiac functions between two groups of patients after treatment (x±s).

Groups	n	LVEF (%)	LVEDV (ml)	LVESV (ml)	E/A
Observation group	47	61.73±3.68	90.54±3.64	36.76±3.08	1.48±0.28
Control group	47	55.78±3.56	97.26±3.86	42.87±3.15	2.62±0.35
t-test		7.967	8.683	9.508	17.437
P-value		<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001

[i] LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; LVEDV, left ventricular end-diastolic volume; LVESV, left ventricular end-systolic volume; E/A, ratio of early diastolic (E) and late diastolic (A).

Comparison of left ventricular diastolic functions between the two groups of patients

After 24 weeks, EDSI, DDI-late and DISPED-late in the control group were significantly higher than those in the observation group (p<0.05) (Table III).

Table III. Comparison of left ventricular diastolic functions with good quality in the two groups of patients (%, x±s).

Table III.

Comparison of left ventricular diastolic functions with good quality in the two groups of patients (%, x±s).

Groups	n	EDSI	DDI-late	DISPED-late
Observation group	47	41.56±3.19	5.19±0.78	21.45±1.14
Control group	47	46.64±3.73	7.63±0.95	25.68±1.53
t-test		7.096	13.609	15.199
P-value		<0.001	<0.001	<0.001

[i] EDSI, end-diastolic sphericity index; DDI, diastolic dyssynchrony index; DISPES, dispersion end systole.

Comparison of left ventricular systolic functions between the two groups of patients

After 24 weeks, ESSI, SDI and DISPES in the control group were significantly higher than those in the observation group (p<0.05) (Table IV).

Table IV. Comparison of left ventricular systolic functions after treatment in the two groups of patients (%, x±s).

Table IV.

Comparison of left ventricular systolic functions after treatment in the two groups of patients (%, x±s).

Groups	n	ESSI	SDI	DISPES
Observation group	47	36.54±3.08	5.36±1.25	19.78±3.09
Control group	47	41.38±3.27	7.89±1.62	26.82±3.53
t-test		7.387	8.477	10.288
P-value		<0.001	<0.001	<0.001

[i] ESSI, end-systolic sphericity index; SDI, systolic dyssynchrony index; DISPES, dispersion end systole.

Comparison of TNF-α levels between the two groups of patients

TNF-α levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after treatment (p<0.05) (Table V).

Table V. Comparison of TNF-α levels between the two groups of patients after treatment (pg/ml, x±s).

Table V.

Comparison of TNF-α levels between the two groups of patients after treatment (pg/ml, x±s).

Groups	n	At 1 week after operation	At 4 weeks after operation	At 4 weeks after operation
Observation group	47	59.67±3.23	32.35±3.28	23.68±3.24
Control group	47	67.27±3.64	49.47±3.36	32.83±3.78
t-test		10.707	24.996	12.600
P-value		<0.001	<0.001	<0.001

[i] TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α.

Comparison of hs-CRP levels between the two groups of patients

hs-CRP levels in the observation groups were significantly lower than those in the control group at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after treatment (p<0.05) (Table VI).

Table VI. Comparison of hs-CRP levels between the two groups of patients after treatment (mg/l, x±s).

Table VI.

Comparison of hs-CRP levels between the two groups of patients after treatment (mg/l, x±s).

		At 1 week	At 4 weeks	At 8 weeks
		after	after	after
Groups	n	operation	operation	operation
Observation group	47	6.05±1.13	3.02±0.61	1.63±0.344
Control group	47	10.72±2.18	3.64±0.78	2.52±0.47
t-test		13.039	4.293	10.518
P-value		<0.001	<0.001	<0.001

[i] hs-CRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.

Comparison of IL-6 levels between the two groups of patients

IL-6 levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after treatment (p<0.05) (Table VII).

Table VII. Comparison of IL-6 levels between the two groups of patients after treatment (ng/l, x±s).

Table VII.

Comparison of IL-6 levels between the two groups of patients after treatment (ng/l, x±s).

Groups	n	At 1 week after operation	At 4 weeks after operation	At 8 weeks after operation
Observation group	47	12.89±2.23	7.52±1.15	4.83±1.04
Control group	47	16.36±2.28	9.74±1.47	7.79±1.15
t-test		7.459	8.155	13.088
P-value		<0.001	<0.001	<0.001

[i] IL-6, interleukin-6.

Comparison of the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups of patients

There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups of patients (p>0.05) (Table VIII).

Table VIII. Comparison of the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups of patients (n, %).

Table VIII.

Comparison of the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups of patients (n, %).

Groups	n	Severe bleeding	Thrombocytopenia	Abnormal liver function	Gastrointestinal reaction
Observation group	47	1 (2.13)	2 (4.26)	1 (2.13)	1 (2.13)
Control group	47	3 (6.38)	4 (8.51)	0 (0.00)	2 (4.26)
χ2		0.261	0.178	0.001	0.001
P-value		0.609	0.673	0.999	0.999

Discussion

AMI is a clinically common cardiovascular disease. The rupture of coronary atherosclerotic plaques usually causes thrombosis, which blocks coronary artery vessels and causes myocardial infarction, leading to arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, hypotension, post-sternal pain and other symptoms in patients (7). Usually, when the area of myocardial infarction exceeds 20%, hemodynamics are obviously decompensated, and when the infarction area exceeds 40%, cardiogenic shock occurs (8). There are many causes of AMI, including emotion, overwork, cold stimulation, overeating, smoking, heavy drinking, and constipation (9). Clinically, PCI treatment can recanalize the coronary artery, so as to rapidly recover the blood perfusion of coronary artery of the patients, and rebuild the blood supply (10).

Ventricular remodeling in patients after PCI mainly involves changes in cardiomyocytes and extracellular matrix, such as the increased number and size as well as apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Ventricular remodeling includes myocardial reactive hypertrophy, left ventricular deformation, myocardial thinning of ventricular wall, diminished ventricular compliance, decreased cardiac function, and intraventricular systolic and diastolic asynchrony (11,12). The results of this study showed that, after treatment, LVEF in the control group was significantly lower than that in the observation group, while LVEDV, LVESV and E/A in the control group were significantly higher than those in the observation group. EDSI, DDI-late and DISPED-late in the control group were significantly higher than those in the observation group. ESSI, SDI and DISPES in the control group were significantly higher than those in the observation group (p<0.05). This is because captopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor that reduces ventricular filling pressure and vascular resistance. Captopril treatment after PCI can reduce left ventricular load and early myocardial remodeling, protect cardiac ejection fraction, and improve myocardial compliance and relaxation ability (13). Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, with the effect of dilating blood vessels to lower blood pressure, which can increase coronary perfusion in infarcted and non-infarcted areas, thereby reducing left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and reducing LVEDV and LVESV (14). The combination of the two drugs can effectively reduce the cardiac load and relieve the condition of limited ventricular filling, which significantly inhibits the enlargement of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter after PCI in patients with AMI, reduces the expansion of infarct size, and has reversal effects on the proliferation of cardiomyocytes and interstitial collagen deposition, thereby improving the myocardial and vascular remodeling, and reducing left atrial pressure and E/A value (15). Real-time three-dimensional ultrasonography revealed decreased DDI in the observation group showing that the recovery of diastolic function in the observation group was superior to that in the control group, and SDI in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group, which meant that the degree of systolic dysfunction was significantly relieved, and there was synchronism of ventricular diastole and contraction.

During catheterization, balloon dilation and other operations, PCI inevitably causes damage to the blood vessels of the patients, which results in the exfoliation of vascular endothelium, and releases a large number of inflammatory cytokines (16). hs-CRP is a commonly used marker of inflammatory response, which can directly reflect the inflammatory status of patients with AMI, and can be used as a predictor of prognostic cardiovascular events in patients with AMI (17). TNF-α is the earliest inflammatory mediator produced by the body, which may initiate and trigger inflammatory response, and cause a cascade reaction. When there are myocardial ischemia and hypoxia, cardiomyocytes and interstitial cells secrete a large amount of TNF-α, induce apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and activate inflammatory response (18). As an acute phase response lymphocyte factor, IL-6 can play various roles. The increased secretion of IL-6 after PCI induces inflammatory cell adhesion and aggregation to promote inflammation, but at the same time, it plays the role of inflammatory resistance (19). The results of this study showed that the levels of IL-6, hs-CRP and TNF-α in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after treatment (p<0.05). This is because aspirin is a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, which blocks the platelet aggregation by inhibiting the enzyme activity of acetylated cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), thereby reducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, hs-CRP and TNF-α). Captopril combined with valsartan may effectively protect the vascular endothelial function, and inhibit the overactivation of nuclear factor κB and Thl cells in endothelial cells, thereby reducing the expression of IL-6, hs-CRP and TNF-α. As the time of administration was increased, the inflammation in patients was effectively suppressed. Τhe levels of IL-6, hs-CRP and TNF-α were significantly decreased, and the degree of inflammation in patients with AMI was reduced (20).

In summary, captopril and valsartan administration in patients with AMI after PCI may effectively prevent the left ventricular remodeling, improve left ventricular function, and reduce the degree of inflammation. It is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Funding

No funding was received.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Authors' contributions

XG wrote the initial draft of the manuscript, revised and finalized this study. XG and RZ designed the study and performed the research. QL collected and analyzed the data of this study. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Honggang Hospital of Dongying (Dongying, China). Signed informed consents were obtained from the patients or guardians.

Patient consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References