Plasma adrenomedullin as an indicator of prognosis after acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE To elucidate whether prognosis after acute myocardial infarction can be predicted by measuring plasma adrenomedullin, a novel vasorelaxant peptide. PATIENTS AND DESIGN Plasma adrenomedullin concentrations on day 2 after myocardial infarction were measured in 113 patients with myocardial infarction with other clinical and haemodynamic variables related to mortality. RESULTS During a mean follow up period of 25 months, 16 patients died of cardiac causes. Plasma adrenomedullin concentrations on day 2 increased significantly in patients with myocardial infarction compared with controls (mean (SD), 12.3 (8.8) v 4.9 (1.0) pmol/l, p