Association of high levels of plasma free dopamine with future coronary events in patients with coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
There is an intimate relationship between activation of the sympathetic nervous system and myocardial ischemia. This study examined whether plasma levels of dopamine, a precursor of norepinephrine, may provide prognostic information in coronary artery disease (CAD).


RESULTS
Plasma levels of free dopamine were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in 210 consecutive patients with stable CAD. The patients were prospectively followed up for a period of < or =36 months until occurrence of a clinical coronary event. Coronary events occurred in 37 patients during follow-up. In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, higher dopamine levels (> or =30 pg/ml) resulted in a higher event probability (p<0.01). Multivariate Cox hazards analysis showed that higher dopamine levels were a significant and independent risk factor for future coronary events (hazard ratio 3.3, 95% confidence interval 1.3-8.1, p<0.01). Furthermore, patients with higher dopamine levels had lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and higher levels of brain natriuretic peptide, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen than those with lower dopamine levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma levels of free dopamine are increased in association with a decrease in LV function and an increase in inflammatory risk markers. Higher free dopamine levels are an independent risk factor for future coronary events in CAD patients.
Abe
Makoto
M
Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
Iwaoka
Masahiko
M
Nakamura
Takamitsu
T
Kitta
Yoshinobu
Y
Takano
Hajime
H
Kodama
Yasushi
Y
Kawabata
Kenichi
K
Obata
Jyun-ei
JE
Mende
Akira
A
Kobayashi
Tsuyoshi
T
Fujioka
Daisuke
D
Saito
Yukio
Y
Hasebe
Hideyuki
H
Kugiyama
Kiyotaka
K
D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D004298:Dopamine