The EGF-R, also known as HER-1 or erbB-1 (EGF-R/HER-1/erbB-1), is a member of the human epithelial receptor tyrosine kinase family. sEGF-R is considered to play a role in cardiac (patho)physiology. We aimed to investigate whether soluble EGF-R is increased in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients and if related to disease severity. Soluble EGF-R, vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH) was studied, and being evaluated in relation to Ca 2? , lipids, hsCRP, fibrinogen, serotonin, norepinepherine (NE). The study compared non-smoker, non-obese male CHF patients (n = 50) with age and gender-matched essential hypertension (HTN) patients (n = 20). Moreover, comparison with healthy control volunteers (n = 20) were employed. EGF-R/HER-1/erbB-1 was higher (P = 0.013) in 50 CHF male patients mean 12 ± 0.7 fmol/ml, than in 20 HTN, 9.25 ± 0.6 fmol/ml or in 20 controls, 6.25 ± 1 fmol/ml. Serum EGF-R levels correlated positively with hsCRP and NE, and were highest among CVD patients (n = 70) as well as negatively with vitamin D and HDL-C. EGF-R/HER-1/erbB-1 levels are increased in HTN and more in CHF patients. This study confirms a strong association between catecholamines as well as EGF-R/HER-1/ erbB-1 levels with PTH and low vitamin D levels, being related to hyperlipidemia and inflammation (hsCRP and fibrinogen) in CVD. Moreover, contributing to the complex process of the inflammatory component of atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients that leads eventually to CHF.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of clinical pharmacist services addition to cardiac rehabilitation program, on high sensitivity C-reactive protein and echocardiographic parameters. Methods: The study was a prospective; randomized, controlled study. A total of 40 post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation program were randomly allocated to either the control group (n = 20) or the clinical pharmacist-provided services group (n = 20). High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and echocardiographic parameters (left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular end systolic volume (LVEDV) and ejection fraction (EF%) were compared between both groups at baseline and after 3 months. Results: After three months of follow-up, the intervention group showed a significant decrease in the percent change of hsCRP, LVESV and LVEDV compared to the control group. However, there was no statistical difference in the percent change of ejection fraction between both groups. Conclusion: Addition of clinical pharmacist services to cardiac rehabilitation program had resulted in marked decrease in hs-CRP, LVESV and LVEDV. Understanding the impact of the clinical pharmacist-provided services in post-ACS patients may encourage clinical implementation of this model in cardiac rehabilitation programs.