Angiopoietin-2 in adults with congenital heart disease and heart failure.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Chronic heart failure is an important cause for morbidity and mortality in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). While NT-proBNP is an established biomarker for heart failure of non-congenital origin, its application in ACHD has limitations. The angiogenic factors Angiopoietin-1 and -2 (Ang-1, Ang-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and soluble receptor tyrosine kinase of the Tie family (sTie2) correlate with disease severity in heart failure of non-congenital origin. Their role in ACHD has not been studied.

METHODS:

In 91 patients Ang-2 and NT-proBNP were measured and related to New York Heart Association class, systemic ventricular function and parameters of cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Ang-1, VEGF, and sTie2 were also measured.

RESULTS:

Ang-2 correlates with NYHA class and ventricular dysfunction comparable to NT-proBNP. Further, Ang-2 showed a good correlation with parameters of cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Both, Ang-2 and NT-proBNP identified patients with severely limited cardiopulmonary exercise capacity. Additionally, Ang-2 is elevated in patients with a single ventricle physiology in contrast to NT-proBNP. VEGF, Ang-1, and sTie2 were not correlated with any clinical parameter.

CONCLUSION:

The performance of Ang-2 as a biomarker for heart failure in ACHD is comparable to NT-proBNP. Its significant elevation in patients with single ventricle physiology indicates potential in this patient group and warrants further studies.

• Authors: Alexander Lukasz, Gernot Beutel, Philipp Kümpers, Agnieszka Denecke, Mechthild Westhoff-Bleck, Bernhard Schieffer, Johann Bauersachs, Jan T Kielstein, Oktay Tutarel
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 8 Issue 6 Pg. e66861 ( 2013) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23826161 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Angiopoietin-1
• Angiopoietin-2
• Biomarkers
• Peptide Fragments
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76)
• Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
• Receptor, TIE-2

Topics

• Adult
• Angiopoietin-1 (blood)
• Angiopoietin-2 (blood)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Exercise
• Female
• Heart Defects, Congenital (blood, physiopathology)
• Heart Failure (blood, physiopathology)
• Heart Function Tests
• Heart Ventricles (physiopathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Natriuretic Peptide, Brain (blood)
• Peptide Fragments (blood)
• Receptor, TIE-2 (metabolism)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (blood)