title: Do plasma concentrations of apelin predict prognosis in patients with advanced heart failure?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Apelin is an endogenous vasodilator and inotrope, plasma concentrations of which are reduced in advanced heart failure (HF). We determined the prognostic significance of plasma concentrations of apelin in advanced HF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma concentrations of apelin were measured in 182 patients with advanced HF secondary to left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The predictive value of apelin for the primary end point of all-cause mortality was assessed over a median follow-up period of 544 (IQR: 196-923) days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 30 patients (17%) reached the primary end point. Of those patients with a plasma apelin concentration above the median, 14 (16%) reached the primary end point compared with 16 (17%) of those with plasma apelin levels below the median (p = NS). NT-proBNP was the most powerful prognostic marker in this population (log rank statistic: 10.37; p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma apelin concentrations do not predict medium to long-term prognosis in patients with advanced HF secondary to left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Scottish Advanced Heart Failure Unit, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Glasgow, G81 4DY, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Dalzell
authors.forename: Colette E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Kwok S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Theresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: McDonagh
authors.forename: Roy S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000073861:Apelin; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: C115436:APLN protein, human; D000073861:Apelin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
keywords: advanced heart failure; apelin; neurohormones; prognosis