The significance of CA125 levels in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. Correlation with clinical and echocardiographic parameters.
OBJECTIVE
To assess serum levels of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) and to assess any correlation with clinical symptoms and echocardiographic indices.


METHODS
We enrolled 77 male patients (mean age: 73+/-10 years) admitted to the Cardiology Emergency Department (ED) with cardiac symptoms requiring hospitalization. Diagnosis of CHF was based upon medical history or initial echocardiographic evaluation on current admission. Serum CA125 was measured by an enzyme immunoradiometric assay, on admission and before discharge.


RESULTS
The median overall CA125 value was 22.4 (11.5-48.9) U/ml. Serum CA125 levels were related to the severity of CHF [New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I: 19.2 (7.2-31) U/ml, NYHA class II: 17.6 (10-23) U/ml, NYHA class III: 32 (25-77) U/ml and NYHA class IV: 34.3 (18.6-77) U/ml (p<0.04)]. Patients in NYHA classes III and IV had significantly higher mean values of CA125, than patients in class II (p<0.005 and p<0.05, respectively). Moreover, patients with fluid congestion (pulmonary congestion, ankle edema) had higher levels of serum CA125 than patients without congestion (p=0.002 and p<0.03, respectively). Finally, levels of serum CA125 correlated weakly with right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and renal function, while no significant correlation was found between CA125 and E wave deceleration time on Doppler echocardiography, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), liver function and the medical treatment prescribed.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum CA125 is associated with the clinical severity of CHF and the symptoms and signs of fluid congestion and therefore may be a useful additional tool for the evaluation and clinical staging of these patients.
Kouris
Nikos T
NT
Cardiology Department, Western Attica General Hospital, Athens, Greece. nikoskou@otenet.gr
Zacharos
Ioannis D
ID
Kontogianni
Dimitra D
DD
Goranitou
Georgia S
GS
Sifaki
Maria D
MD
Grassos
Haris E
HE
Kalkandi
Eleni M
EM
Babalis
Dimitris K
DK
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D017725:Ventricular Pressure / Q000502:physiology
D018394:CA-125 Antigen