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Background. It is well known that the NT-proBNP in obese subjects is much lower than in normal weight subjects, making difficult to interpret it. In current practice the patients are frequently obese. In these conditions, a new biomarker, not influenced by weight, could be useful in acute-decompensated heart failure (ADHF).Aim. To determine CA-125 changes in obese and normal weight patients with ADHF.Method. The study group included 110 patients (mean age 72±10 years, 63% men) with ADHF caused by ischemic cardiomyopathy. The subjects were clinically, ecocardiographically and biologically (NT-proBNP, CA-125) evaluated.Results. The mean BMI was 27.6±5.8 kg/m2 and 35 (33%) subjects were obese. CA-125 at admission was 53±33 U/mL and decreased at discharge to 34±17 U/mL, without any difference between males and females.There was a significant difference between NT-proBNP at admission in obese versus normoponderal patients (3207±1432 pg/mL versus 4457±2737 pg/mL (p=0.02)), which was maintained at discharge (1711±816 pg/mL versus 2674±1475 pg/mL (p=0.03)).In the same time, the CA-125 did not show statistically significant differences between obese and normoponderal subjects at admission (56±29 U/mL versus 51±20 U/mL (p=0.63)) and discharge (36±20 U/mL versus 33±16 U/mL (p=0.56)).Conclusions. CA-125 could be an useful biomarker in monitoring the obese patients with ADHF, better than NT-proBNP.

Background. CA-125 is a tumor antigen expressed on the surface of ovarian cells, used to monitor the treatment of ovarian cancer (normal upper limit is 35U/mL), but it seems also to have a role as biomarker in heart failure (HF).Aim. To determine CA-125 changes in acute-decompensated HF (ADHF) patients.Method. The study group included 110 patients (mean age 72±10 years, 63% men) with ADHF caused by ischemic cardiomyopathy. The subjects were clinically, ecocardiographically and biologically (NT-proBNP, PCR, serum uric acid (sUA), CA-125) evaluated.Results. CA-125 at admission was 53±33 U/mL and decreased at discharge to 34±17 U/mL, without any difference between males and females. The mean level of CA-125 was significantly higher in patients with pleural effusion.There was a significant difference between NT-proBNP at admission in obese versus normoponderal patients, which was maintained at discharge. In the same time, the CA-125 did not show significant differences between obese and normoponderal subjects at admission and discharge. The mean level of CA-125 was significantly higher for subjects with reduced ejection fraction and with elevated left ventricular filling pressures versus subjects with preserved ejection fraction and normal left ventricular filling pressures.The CA-125 correlated with LVEF (R=-0.221, p=0.02), with NT-proBNP (R=0.371, p<0.001), with the inflammation marker - PCR (R=0.284, p=0.003) and oxidative stress marker - sUA (R=0.234, p=0.015).Conclusions. The wide availability of CA-125, its relatively low cost, its correlation with known prognostic markers in HF and the additional information provided make it a valuable biomarker that can be used in monitoring ADHF patients.

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