Chromogranin A and C-terminal endothelin-1 precursor fragment add independent prognostic information to amino-terminal proBNP in patients with acute destabilized heart failure.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of chromogranin A (CgA) and C-terminal endothelin-1 precursor fragment (CT-proET-1) in patients with acute destabilized heart failure.


METHODS
137 consecutive patients with acute destabilized heart failure attending the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital were prospectively enrolled. Plasma concentrations of CgA, CT-proET-1, and amino-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) were measured at baseline. The endpoint was defined as all-cause mortality; the study participants were followed up for 365 days.


RESULTS
Decedents (n=41) had higher median plasma concentrations of CgA (9.7 vs. 6.0 nmol/L; p=0.002), CT-proET-1 (120 vs. 72 pmol/L; p=0.006), and NT-proBNP (5112 vs. 2610 ng/L; p<0.001) at baseline than survivors (n=96). Applying Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses, increased CgA (>6.6 nmol/L), CT-proET-1 (>79 pmol/L), and NT-proBNP (>3275 ng/L) revealed significant risk ratios of 1.96 (95% CI, 1.04-3.70) for CgA, 2.56 (95% CI, 1.33-4.95) for CT-proET-1, and 2.05 (95% CI, 1.09-3.87) for NT-proBNP. When the cohort was stratified according to median CgA and NT-proBNP concentrations, and to median CT-proET-1 and NT-proBNP concentrations, respectively, Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses showed the highest risk for death in patients with both increased CgA and NT-proBNP (risk ratio, 3.65; 95% CI, 1.44-9.28), and increased CT-proET-1 and NT-proBNP (risk ratio, 4.03; 95% CI, 1.61-8.88).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates that increased CgA and CT-proET-1 plasma concentrations at the initial presentation of patients with acute destabilized heart failure in the emergency department add independent prognostic information in addition to NT-proBNP measurement.
Dieplinger
Benjamin
B
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konventhospital Barmherzige Brueder Linz, Linz, Austria.
Gegenhuber
Alfons
A
Struck
Joachim
J
Poelz
Werner
W
Langsteger
Werner
W
Haltmayer
Meinhard
M
Mueller
Thomas
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D053379:Chromogranin A / Q000097:blood*; D003625:Data Collection; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000737:chemistry*; D015996:Survival Rate
D015415:Biomarkers; D053379:Chromogranin A; D019332:Endothelin-1; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain