title: Is plasma urotensin II concentration an indicator of myocardial damage in patients with acute coronary syndrome?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urotensin II (UII) is a vasoactive peptide secreted by endothelial cells. Increased plasma UII concentration was observed in patients with heart failure, liver cirrhosis, diabetic nephropathy and renal insufficiency. In patients with myocardial infarction both increased and decreased plasma UII concentrations were demonstrated. The aim of this study was to analyze whether plasma UII concentration reflects the severity of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-nine consecutive patients with ACS, without age limit, were enrolled in the study. In all patients plasma concentration of creatinine, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), troponin C, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP), and UII were assessed, and echocardiography was performed in order to assess the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy, ejection fraction (EF) and mass (LVM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with the highest risk (TIMI 5-7) plasma UII concentration was significantly lower than in those with low risk (TIMI 1-2): 2.61±1.47 ng/ml vs. 3.60±2.20 ng/ml. Significantly lower plasma UII concentration was found in patients with increased concentration of troponin C (2.60±1.52 ng/ml vs. 3.41±2.09 ng/ml). There was a significant negative correlation between plasma UII concentration and TIMI score or concentration of troponin C, but not CK-MB. Borderline correlation between plasma UII and ejection fraction (R = 0.157; p=0.063) or NT-proBNP (R = - 0.156; p=0.058) was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased plasma urotensin II concentration in patients with ACS could be associated with more severe injury of myocardium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babińska
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holecki
authors.forename: Fryderyk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prochaczek
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Owczarek
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kokocińska
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chudek
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Więcek