Pro-oxidant HDL predicts poor outcome in patients with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome

Oxidative stress affects clinical outcome in patients with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS). Although high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles are generally considered protective, deleterious properties of HDL have been observed in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Here, we analysed the association between prooxidant HDL and all-cause mortality in STE-ACS patients. We determined the antioxidant function of HDL in 247 prospectively enrolled patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for STE-ACS. Patients were stratified as by a pro-oxidant serum HDL oxidant index (HOI >= 1) or with an antioxidant serum HOI (HOI.<1) capacity. Multivariate regression analysis was used to relate HOI to survival. The median follow-up time was 23 months (IQR 14.4-40.0 months). Pro-oxidant HDL was observed in 44.1 % of STE-ACS patients and was independently associated with all-cause mortality with a hazard ratio of 3.30(95 %CI 1.50-7.27, p = 0.003). Mortality rates were higher in patients with baseline pro-oxidant HDL compared to patients with preserved HDL function at 30 days (11.9% vs 2.2%, p=0.002), and at 4 years (22.9% vs 8.7%, p=0.002). Elevated neutrophil counts were a strong and independent predictor for pro-oxidant HDL with an odds ratio per standard deviation of 1.50 (95 %CI 1.11-2.03, p=0.008), as was history of prior acute myocardial infarction, elevated triglycerides levels and reduced glomerular filtration rate. In conclusion, pro-oxidant HDL represents a strong and independent predictor of long-term as well as short-term all-cause mortality in STE-ACS patients. Elevated neutrophil counts predicted the presence of serum pro-oxidant HDL. The maintenance of HDL functions might be a promising therapeutic target in STE-ACS patients.