title: Serum fetuin-A levels in patients with systolic heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inflammation and dystrophic calcification have been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential usefulness of fetuin-A as a biomarker in CHF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum fetuin-A was measured in 66 CHF patients with left ventricular function < 50% and in 31 healthy controls at baseline. Fetuin-A was evaluated as a diagnostic marker for systolic heart failure and compared with C-reactive protein (CRP) and pro-brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of serum fetuin-A were significantly decreased in the CHF patients compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Although there were significant correlations between fetuin-A and certain parameters in patients and controls, none of these were present consistently in either group. It was found that serum fetuin-A levels could identify patients with systolic heart failure with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum fetuin-A is decreased in CHF patients, indicating that anti-inflammatory activity is downregulated in CHF and that calcification may be associated with CHF.
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keçebaş
authors.forename: Sümeyye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Güllülü
authors.forename: Saim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sağ
authors.forename: Feyzullah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beşli
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Açikgöz
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sarandöl
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydinlar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; 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; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002097:C-Reactive Protein