Higher Plasma Pentraxin-3 Level Predicts Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

Background: Association between plasma pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) and clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains not fully determined. An updated meta-analysis of cohort studies was performed to systematically evaluate the association. Methods: Cohort studies evaluating the association between plasma PTX-3 and adverse outcomes [mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs)] in adults with CAD were identified by systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Only studies with multivariate analysis were included. A random-effects model incorporating the potential intrastudy heterogeneity was used for the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 16 studies including 11,007 patients were included. Pooled results showed that patients with highest level of PTX-3 were independently associated with higher risk of mortality [adjusted risk ratio (RR): 2.09, 95% CI: 1.60 to 2.74, p < 0.001; I2 = 50%] and MACEs (adjusted RR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.43 to 2.28, p < 0.001; I2 = 49%). Subgroup analyses showed that the associations between PTX-3 and poor prognosis in CAD were consistent in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infraction, non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome, and stable CAD (p < 0.05 for each subgroup). Besides, the association between PTX-3 and increased incidence of mortality and MACEs were consistent in short-term (within 1 year) and long-term (over 1 year) studies and in studies with or without adjustment of C-reactive protein (CRP) (p < 0.05 for each subgroup). Conclusion: Higher plasma PTX-3 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with CAD, which may be independent of the CAD subtype, follow-up durations, and adjustment of CRP.