title: Serum levels of microRNAs in patients with heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with heart failure remain a challenge. The small non-coding RNAs known as microRNAs regulate gene expression and seem to play an important role in the pathogenesis of heart failure. In the current study, we aim to characterize the levels of microRNAs in the sera of chronic systolic heart failure patients vs. controls and assess the possible correlation between elevation in the levels of specific microRNAs and clinical prognostic parameters in heart failure patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of 186 microRNAs were measured in the sera of 30 stable chronic systolic heart failure patients and 30 controls using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The differences in microRNA levels between the two groups were characterized, and a score, based on the levels of four specific microRNAs with the most significant increase in the heart failure group (miR-423-5p, miR-320a, miR-22, and miR-92b), was defined. The score was used to discriminate heart failure patients from controls with a sensitivity and specificity of 90%. Moreover, in the heart failure group, there was a significant association between the score and important clinical prognostic parameters such as elevated serum natriuretic peptide levels, a wide QRS, and dilatation of the left ventricle and left atrium (r = 0.63, P = 3e-4; P = 0.009; P = 0.03; and P = 0.01, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated serum levels of specific microRNAs: miR-423-5p, miR-320a, miR-22, and miR-92b, identify systolic heart failure patients and correlate with important clinical prognostic parameters.
authors: Rosetta Genomics Ltd, Rehovot, Israel.
authors: Yaron
authors: Y
authors: Goren
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Kushnir
authors: Barak
authors: B
authors: Zafrir
authors: Sarit
authors: S
authors: Tabak
authors: Basil S
authors: BS
authors: Lewis
authors: Offer
authors: O
authors: Amir
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D054143:Heart Failure, Systolic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain