LAUSR

Background: Circulating ketone bodies (KB) are increased in patients with heart failure, corresponding with increased utilization of KB as a cardiac fuel. Whether circulating KB are increased in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and whether this is associated with infarct size is unknown. Methods: KB were measured in 379 non-diabetic participants of the Glycometabolic Intervention as Adjunct to Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (GIPS) III trial (Clinicaltrial.gov Identifier: NCT01217307). Non-fasting plasma concentrations of the KB beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, acetone were measured at presentation, 24 hours and 4 months after STEMI presentation using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Associations of circulating KB with myocardial infarct size and left ventricular ejection fraction (both detected with MRI at 4 months after STEMI) were determined using multivariable linear regression analyses. Results: Circulating KB were higher at baseline (total KB 520 [315-997](median [IQR], μmol/L), compared to 206 [174-246] at 24 hours and 166 [143-201] at 4 months ( P <0.001 for all)). KB at 24 hours were positively associated with enzymatic infarct size, HbA1C and beta-blocker use. KB at 24 hours were independently associated with MRI outcomes at 4 months. Higher KB was associated with larger myocardial infarct size (total KB: standardized β=0.17, 95%-confidence interval (CI) (0.04-0.31), P =0.012) and lower ejection fraction (standardized β=-0.15, 95%-CI (-0.29- -0.009), P =0.037). Conclusion: Circulating KB are increased in patients with STEMI and are independently associated with myocardial infarct size and left ventricular function after 4 months of follow-up. The increase in circulating KB may reflect maladaptive changes of myocardial metabolism during the acute phase.