title: Evaluation of the clinical utility of urocortin 1 in systolic heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urocortin 1 (UCN1) has cardiostimulatory, vasodilatory, diuretic and natriuretic effects, and its expression increases in heart failure (HF).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine UCN1 levels in patients with HF, to evaluate UCN1's relationship with various clinical parameters, and to assess UCN1 as a diagnostic marker in HF, compared to pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated serum levels of UCN1 and pro-BNP in 90 consecutive patients with systolic HF (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≤ 45%) and 90 healthy controls. Serum UCN1 and pro-BNP levels were measured using the ELISA method. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to determine LVEF and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  UCN1 level was higher in HF patients (391.5 [357.0-482.0] pg/mL, p < 0.001). UCN1 was positively related with NYHA class (r = 0.89, p < 0.001), and PASP (r = 0.39, p < 0.001); and negatively related with LVEF (r = -0.46, p < 0.001), and GFR (r = -0.21, p = 0.046). A significant positive correlation was found between pro-BNP and UCN1 levels (p < 0.001, r = 0.96). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.99 (95% CI 0.98-1.00,p < 0.001) for UCN1 and 1.00 (p < 0.001) for pro-BNP in the diagnosis of HF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UCN1 increases with worsening HF and left ventricular dysfunction. It may be used as a diagnostic biomarker in systolic HF, but the incremental value of measuring UCN1 in patients tested for pro-BNP is questionable.
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Keles
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Cardiology. altugcakmak@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Huseyin Altug
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Cakmak
authors.forename: Kahraman
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cosansu
authors.forename: Gunay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Can
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ikitimur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D054143:Heart Failure, Systolic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D013599:Systole; D054832:Urocortins / Q000097:blood*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D054832:Urocortins; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain