Elevated carboxy-terminal peptide of procollagen type I in elderly patients with diastolic dysfunction.
BACKGROUND
Diastolic dysfunction (DD) is common in elderly people. Myocardial fibrosis is a major determinant of diastolic function. Increased myocardial fibrosis has been observed with advancing age. We hypothesized that plasma levels of carboxy-terminal peptide of procollagen type I (PICP), a marker of fibrosis, is elevated in elderly subjects with DD compared to healthy control subjects.


METHODS
PICP levels were measured in 29 elderly subjects with DD and 25 healthy control subjects. The relationship between PICP levels and age, gender, hypertension, and the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy were then assessed.


RESULTS
PICP levels were significantly higher in elderly subjects with DD than in healthy control subjects (301.0 +/- 52.0 vs. 262.9 +/- 45.3 ng/mL; P = .006). PICP levels were higher in elderly with DD regardless of the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy. Additionally, PICP levels were not found to correlate with age.


CONCLUSIONS
PICP levels are elevated in elderly people with DD. PICP may be a useful marker to determine the level of fibrotic activity in this population.
Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA. Chanwit.roongsritong@ttuhsc.edu
Chanwit
C
Roongsritong
Jason
J
Bradley
Piraon
P
Sutthiwan
Jan
J
Simoni
Ahmed
A
Arif
Gary
G
Meyerrose
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000097:blood*; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011347:Procollagen; C042813:procollagen type I carboxy terminal peptide