Coagulation factor XIII activity predicts left ventricular remodelling after acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Aims Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is the major cause of chronic heart failure. The activity of blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIIIa) plays an important role in rodents as a healing factor after MI, whereas its role in healing and remodelling processes in humans remains unclear. We prospectively evaluated the relevance of FXIIIa after acute MI as a potential early prognostic marker for adequate healing. Methods and results This monocentric prospective cohort study investigated cardiac remodelling in patients with ST‐elevation MI and followed them up for 1 year. Serum FXIIIa was serially assessed during the first 9 days after MI and after 2, 6, and 12 months. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed within 4 days after MI (Scan 1), after 7 to 9 days (Scan 2), and after 12 months (Scan 3). The FXIII valine‐to‐leucine (V34L) single‐nucleotide polymorphism rs5985 was genotyped. One hundred forty‐six patients were investigated (mean age 58 ± 11 years, 13% women). Median FXIIIa was 118% (quartiles, 102–132%) and dropped to a trough on the second day after MI: 109% (98–109%; P