title: Association of high levels of plasma free dopamine with future coronary events in patients with coronary artery disease.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Abe
authors: Masahiko
authors: M
authors: Iwaoka
authors: Takamitsu
authors: T
authors: Nakamura
authors: Yoshinobu
authors: Y
authors: Kitta
authors: Hajime
authors: H
authors: Takano
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Kodama
authors: Kenichi
authors: K
authors: Kawabata
authors: Jyun-ei
authors: JE
authors: Obata
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Mende
authors: Tsuyoshi
authors: T
authors: Kobayashi
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Fujioka
authors: Yukio
authors: Y
authors: Saito
authors: Hideyuki
authors: H
authors: Hasebe
authors: Kiyotaka
authors: K
authors: Kugiyama
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D004298:Dopamine