Abstract: Objective To investigate the temporal changes of serum interleukin-37 (IL-37) concentration following acute
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (ASTEMI) and the relationship between IL-37 and C-reactive protein (CRP) in
patients with ASTEMI. Methods This analysis was conducted in a cohort of 20 patients with an established diagnosis of
ASTEMI and 26 patients admitted for chest pain but with normal findings in coronary angiography (control) between June
2012 and December 2013. Venous blood was collected at days 1, 3, 5, and 7 after myocardial infarction for measurement of
serum IL-37 and CRP levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Compared with the control group,
the patients in ASTEMI group showed a significant acute elevation of IL-37 level on day 1 following myocardial infarction;
IL-37 level reached the peak on day 3 and began to decrease on day 5, followed by a significant decrease on day 7. The time
course of post-infarction CRP changes was consistent with that of IL-37 variations and showed a positive correlation the latter
(r=0.63, P<0.05). Conclusion IL-37 may participate in the inflammatory responses in ASTEMI.