title: Serum tenascin-C: a novel biomarker for diagnosis and predicting prognosis of rheumatic carditis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tenascin-C (TnC) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that has a major role in tissue remodeling.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the serum TnC level in acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and chronic rheumatic heart disease (CRHD) during childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients with ARF, 25 patients with CRHD and 20 control subjects were included in the study. The TnC levels were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in the ARF group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TnC levels were lower in the acute carditis group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). The cut-off level was estimated as 2.08 ng/ml for diagnosing carditis with 93.3% sensitivity and 95% specificity. On second analysis, prominent decrease was detected in valve insufficiency patients with markedly elevated TnC levels. In the CRHD group, TnC level was significantly lower in cases with severe valve insufficiency (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum TnC level can be used as a new biochemical marker for diagnosis and predicting the prognosis of rheumatic carditis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty, Konya, TR-42080, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zehra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Karatas
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baysal
authors.forename: Hayrullah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alp
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019063:Tenascin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019063:Tenascin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: acute rheumatic fever; children; chronic rheumatic heart disease; tenascin-C