Dickkopf-1 as a Novel Predictor Is Associated with Risk Stratification by GRACE Risk Scores for Predictive Value in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Retrospective Research

Objective Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), a major regulator of the Wnt pathway, plays an important role in cardiovascular disease. However, no study has evaluated the association of DKK-1 and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We investigated this association and whether the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) hospital-discharge risk score predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE) can be improved by adding the DKK-1 value. Methods We enrolled 291 patients (46 with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] and 245 with non-ST elevated ACS [NSTE-ACS]) who were divided into groups by tertiles of baseline plasma DKK-1 level measured by ELISA. The GRACE risk score was calculated and predictive value alone and together with DKK-1 and/or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level were assessed, respectively. Results Compared with patients with NSTE-ACS, those with STEMI had higher plasma DKK-1 level at baseline ( P  = 0.006). Plasma DKK-1 level was correlated with hs-CRP level ( r  = 0.295, P <0.001) and was greater with high than intermediate or low GRACE scores ( P  = 0.002 and P <0.001, respectively). We found 44 (15.1%) MACEs during a median 2-year follow-up. DKK-1 levels were higher for patients with than without events ( P <0.001). The rate of MACE increased with increasing DKK-1 level ( P <0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for GRACE score with MACE was 0.524 and improved to 0.791 with the addition of hs-CRP level, 0.775 with the addition of DKK-1 level and 0.847 with both values added. Conclusions DKK-1 is an independent predictor of long-term MACE of patients with ACS. The long-term predictive ability of post-discharge GRACE score may be enhanced by adding DKK-1 level.