Highlight
– The junctional protein associated with coronary artery disease (JCAD) independently predicts recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with residual lipid and/or inflammatory risk despite guideline-recommended care.
– JCAD levels correlate positively with impaired endogenous fibrinolysis, linking this protein mechanistically to coagulation and thrombotic pathways.
– The findings were robust across two large prospective cohorts, emphasizing JCAD as a promising biomarker and potential therapeutic target to address persistent ischemic risk in ACS.
– Measuring JCAD in ACS patients with residual lipid or inflammatory risk could improve risk stratification and guide novel anticoagulant or fibrinolytic therapies.
