Serum HMGB1 is a biomarker for acute myocardial infarction with or without heart failure

This study measured serum high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and/or heart failure (HF) and evaluated their relationship with peripheral inflammatory biomarkers and cardiac biomarkers, which have not been reported before. Of the patients, 55 had AMI without HF (AMI(−HF)), 42 had AMI with HF (AMI(+HF)), and 60 had HF without AMI (HF(−AMI)) compared with 50 healthy controls. Blood samples were collected to assess serum HMGB1 levels and blood test‐related inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], hs‐CRP, uric acid, and white blood cell count) and cardiac biomarkers (e.g., MYO, cTnI, CKMB, CK, NT‐proBNP, LDH, aspartate aminotransferase [AST], and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]). Compared to healthy controls, three groups of patients, especially those with AMI(+HF), had significantly higher levels of serum HMGB1. All tested inflammatory biomarkers (except uric acid) were significantly positively correlated with HMGB1 in patients with AMI patients but not in patients with non‐AMI. In addition, all tested cardiac biomarkers (except NT‐proBNP in AMI(−HF)) were significantly higher in patients with AMI than in control individuals. The levels of MYO, cTnI, CKMB, CK, AST, and ALT were not significantly changed in patients with HF(−AMI) compared to control individuals, but were still much lower than those in patients with AMI (except ALT). In all patients, the levels of NT‐proBNP, and cTnI were significantly correlated with HMGB1 levels. Except for MYO, LDH, AST, and ALT, all cardiac biomarkers in AMI(−HF) and AMI(+HF) showed a significant correlation with HMGB1. Among risk factors, hypertension, diabetes, previous heart disease, and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction showed a significant correlation with HMGB1 in all disease groups.