Serum levels of collagen type-I degradation markers are associated with vascular stiffness in chronic heart failure patients.
BACKGROUND
Chronic heart failure (CHF) induces peripheral vasoconstriction, endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness by activation of various neurohormonal pathways. The abnormal collagen turnover observed in CHF may be attributed not only to myocardial remodelling, but also to vascular remodelling. However, the effect of collagen metabolism on progressive large artery stiffening in the setting of CHF is understudied.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was undertaken to investigate the association between circulating markers of collagen turnover and vascular stiffness in patients with CHF.


METHODS
Eighty patients (mean age 65+/-11 years, 68 men) with stable CHF and in sinus rhythm, were studied. Serum concentrations of carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I (CITP) and amino-terminal propetide of procollagen type I (PINP), markers of collagen type I degregation and synthesis respectively, were measured in all patients. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) of aortic pulse wave form, markers of arterial stiffness, were also determined by applanation tonometry.


RESULTS
Peripheral PWV was inversely associated with serum CITP levels (r=-0.585, p<0.001). AIx although weakly was negatively correlated with serum CITP levels (r=-0.285, p=0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that peripheral PWV remained independently associated with serum CITP levels after adjustment for all confounding variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings from the present study imply a possible link between altered collagen metabolism and peripheral vascular stiffness in CHF.
Department of Cardiology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Sofia V
SV
Chatzikyriakou
Dimitrios N
DN
Tziakas
Georgios K
GK
Chalikias
Dimitrios A
DA
Stakos
Adina K
AK
Thomaidi
Konstantina
K
Mitrousi
Asimina E
AE
Lantzouraki
Stamatia
S
Kotsiou
Efstratios
E
Maltezos
Harisios
H
Boudoulas
D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004548:Elasticity; D005109:Extracellular Matrix; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I