Assessment of endothelin and copeptin as biomarkers for vasovagal syncope.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The diagnosis of vasovagal syncope continues to be difficult despite the use of accurate histories, tilt testing and implantable loop recorders. A circulating biomarker might be useful to facilitate diagnoses. Both endothelin-1 and vasopressin are increased during positive tilt tests resulting in syncope. Copeptin is a stable cleavage product of vasopressin formation. We conducted a pilot study to assess the utility of endothelin-1 and copeptin as circulating biomarkers of vasovagal syncope.

METHODS:

Three populations were studied: syncope patients, epilepsy patients and controls. Vasovagal syncope diagnosis was ascertained with the Calgary Syncope Score and epilepsy diagnosis was confirmed with EEG. Plasma levels of endothelin-1 were measured using by ELISA and copeptin levels were determined using an EIA kit.

RESULTS:

Asymptomatic control subjects had mean age 35 ± 11 years (7/22 male); epileptic subjects had mean age 32 ± 7 years (4/15 male); and syncope subjects had mean age 33 ± 16 years (4 of 21 male). Circulating plasma levels of endothelin-1 and copeptin were no different among the three groups. Mean concentrations of endothelin-1 were as follows: syncope, 23 ± 32 pg/mL; controls, 21 ± 17 pg/mL; and epileptics, 18 ± 12 pg/mL. Mean concentrations of copeptin were as follows: syncope, 1·29 ± 0·79 ng/mL; controls, 1·25 ± 0·79 ng/mL; and seizures, 1·23 ± 0·45 ng/mL. There were no significant correlations between syncope frequency and copeptin or endothelin-1 levels.

CONCLUSION:

Circulating plasma endothelin-1 and copeptin levels are not significantly different among populations of controls, syncope patients and seizure patients.

• Authors: Arjun Rash, Maureen McRae, Jaleh Fatehi, Deborah Richie, Monica Solbiati, Neelan Pillay, Annegret Ulke-Lemée, Justin MacDonald, Robert Sheldon
• Journal: European journal of clinical investigation (Eur J Clin Invest) Vol. 46 Issue 2 Pg. 141-5 (Feb 2016) ISSN: 1365-2362 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26641207 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2015 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Endothelin-1
• Glycopeptides
• copeptins

Topics

• Adult
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Endothelin-1 (blood)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Epilepsy (blood)
• Female
• Glycopeptides (blood)
• Humans
• Immunoenzyme Techniques
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Syncope, Vasovagal (blood)
• Young Adult