Evaluation of cardiac laboratory markers in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Myocardial involvement is frequent in systemic sclerosis, but symptoms are usually delayed and non-specific, thus often misrecognized. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the early subclinical cardiac involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis by means of non-invasive laboratory cardiac markers.

DESIGN AND METHODS:

Cardiac troponin T (cTnT), ischemia modified albumin (IMA) and NT-prohormone-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured in 40 female patients with systemic sclerosis and in 40 matched healthy controls.

RESULTS:

Patients with systemic sclerosis displayed significantly increased concentrations of serum IMA (106 versus 93.5 kunits/l, P < 0.0001) and NT-proBNP (89 versus 37 pg/ml, P < 0.0001), whereas no significant differences could be observed in both IMA and NT-proBNP values in limited versus diffuse pattern of disease.

CONCLUSIONS:

The increased levels of NT-proBNP and IMA could be considered a sign of early myocardial involvement, warranting further heart examination and a regular follow-up.

• Authors: Martina Montagnana, Giuseppe Lippi, Alessandro Volpe, Gian Luca Salvagno, Domenico Biasi, Paola Caramaschi, Gian Cesare Guidi
• Journal: Clinical biochemistry (Clin Biochem) Vol. 39 Issue 9 Pg. 913-7 (Sep 2006) ISSN: 0009-9120 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16713594 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Protein Precursors
• Serum Albumin
• prepro-brain natriuretic peptide
• Natriuretic Peptide, Brain

Topics

• Aged
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Myocardium (metabolism)
• Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (blood)
• Protein Precursors (blood)
• Scleroderma, Systemic (blood)
• Serum Albumin (analysis)