title: Specifics of fetuin-A levels in distinct types of chronic heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fetuin-A has been described to correlate inversely with vascular calcification both in animal models but also in patients with heart and renal disease. In this current study, we sought to investigate whether fetuin-A might be a useful marker for the discrimination of ischemic (ICM) from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 124 non-consecutive patients were included in this study, 59 patients suffered from ICM and 65 patients from DCM. Serum samples were obtained during out-patient visits and analyzed for fetuin-A by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median fetuin-A concentration in the overall cohort was significantly lower in ICM patients compared to DCM patients (62.2±16.4 μg/mL vs. 129.6±56.6 μg/mL; P<.001). A positive correlation of fetuin-A levels was found with BMI, cholesterol, LDL/HDL ratio and triglycerides and an inverse correlation with age (r=-.36; P<.001). Moreover, patients suffering from (stable) angina pectoris evidenced lower fetuin-A levels compared to non-symptomatic patients (73.1±22.7 μg/mL vs. 83.7±26.2 μg/mL; P=.047) CONCLUSIONS: Fetuin-A was shown to be a potential discriminator and biomarker for the differential diagnosis between ICM and DCM. Fetuin-A levels might also be helpful in the process of diagnostic decision-making in regards to invasive management or medical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Clinic of Internal Medicine II, Paracelsus Medical University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8403-3931
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lichtenauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Clinic of Internal Medicine II, Paracelsus Medical University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wernly
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Clinic of Internal Medicine II, Paracelsus Medical University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paar
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Angiology, Pneumology and Intensive Medical Care, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Ilonka
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7727-8356
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rohm
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Vascular Medicine, Medical Faculty, University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Internal Medicine II, Elisabeth Klinikum Schmalkalden, Schmalkalden, Germany.
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Clinic of Internal Medicine II, Paracelsus Medical University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Uta C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Hoppe
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Angiology, Pneumology and Intensive Medical Care, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Paul Christian
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Angiology, Pneumology and Intensive Medical Care, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kretzschmar
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Angiology, Pneumology and Intensive Medical Care, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Rudin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pistulli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D060749:alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein
keywords: 
  ELISA
  ; biomarker; cardiomyopathy; fetuin-A; heart failure