Prognostic value of plasma DPP4 activity in ST-elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) regulates blood glucose levels and inflammation, and it is also implicated in the pathophysiological process of myocardial infarction (MI). Plasma DPP4 activity (DPP4a) may provide prognostic information regarding outcomes for ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) patients. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 625 consecutively admitted, percutaneous coronary intervention-treated STEMI patients with a mean age of 57 years old. DPP4a was quantified using enzymatic assays. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 30 months. Multivariate Cox-regression analyses (adjusted for confounding variables) showed that a 1 U/L increase of DPP4a did not associate with risks of major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE), cardiovascular mortality, MI, heart failure readmission, stroke, non-cardiovascular mortality and repeated revascularization. However, in a subset of 149 diabetic STEMI patients, DPP4a associated with an increased risk of MACCE (HR 1.16; 95% CI 1.04–1.30; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: DPP4a did not associate with cardiovascular events and non-cardiovascular mortality in non-diabetic STEMI patients. However, DPP4a may be associated with future MACCE in diabetic STEMI patients. Trial registration NCT03046576, registered on 5 February, 2017, retrospectively registered ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12933-017-0553-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.