Endocan Is an Independent Predictor of Heart Failure-Related Mortality and Hospitalizations in Patients with Chronic Stable Heart Failure

Abstract

Background. Heart failure (HF) is characterized by unfavorable prognosis. Disease trajectory of HF, however, may vary, and risk assessment of patients remains elusive. In our study, we sought to determine the prognostic impact of endocan—a novel biomarker of endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation—in patients with heart failure. Methods. In outpatients with chronic HF, baseline values of endocan were determined and clinical follow-up for a minimum of 18 months obtained. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was built for HF-related death or hospitalization requiring inotropic support. Results. A total of 120 patients (mean age 71 years, 64% male, mean LVEF 36%) were included. During a mean follow-up of 656±109 days, 50 patients (41.6%) experienced an event. On Cox multivariate analysis, endocan values emerged as an independent predictor of HF prognosis (HR, 1.471 CI 95% 1.183-1.829, p=0.001, for each 1 ng/mL increase) even after adjustment for age, gender, HF etiology, LVEF, NYHA class, NT-proBNP, and exercise tolerance. Conclusions. Endocan is an independent predictor of HF-related events in chronic HF individuals and represents a promising tool for risk assessment of HF patients.

Endothelial Cell-Specific Molecule-1 Inhibits Albuminuria in Diabetic Mice

“…Esm-1 transcription is stimulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines 18 , and progressive DKD is characterized by inflammation 15,[31][32][33][34][35] . Although others have reported correlations of Esm-1 with kidney diseases 23,[36][37][38] , cardiovascular diseases 23,[39][40][41][42] , and cancer [43][44][45][46][47] , data linking Esm-1 to DKD are mixed. For example, Ekiz-Bilir et al showed a direct correlation between serum Esm-1 and the degree of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus 48 , while Cikrikcioglu et al reported the opposite 49 .…”

Elevated plasma endocan and BOC in heart failure patients decrease after heart transplantation in association with improved hemodynamics

“…Apart from being linked to cardiovascular risk factors, endothelial dysfunction predicts adverse clinical events, and its grade is analogous to the functional capacity and the severity of HF [33]. A recent study of chronic HF patients showed that apart from plasma endocan being elevated compared with healthy controls and patients with coronary artery disease, it emerged as an independent prognosticator of HF-related hospitalization and mortality [35]. In a rat model of PAH, endocan levels were elevated in the serum and lungs, and knockdown of endocan reversed monocrotaline-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling and reduced right-ventricular pressure.…”

Altered Heart Rate Turbulence and Variability Parameters Predict 1-Year Mortality in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

“…Patients were included if they met the following criteria: (i) signs and symptoms of HF at the time of Holter monitoring recording [ 16 ]; (ii) echocardiographic evidence of preserved LVEF (LVEF ≥ 50%) [ 16 ] and structural cardiac abnormalities (hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, left atrial enlargement, and/or increased tricuspid regurgitation velocity [ 2 ]; (iii) N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level > 600 pg/mL; (iv) preserved sinus rhythm; and (v) stable disease for at least 3 months prior to Holter monitoring recording [ 2 , 16 ].…”

“…Exclusion criteria included (i) an acute cardiovascular event within the past 3 months (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke, or thromboembolic event) [ 16 ]; (ii) atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias incompatible with HRT and/or HRV determination; and (iii) significant non-cardiac comorbidities with expected survival < 1 year [ 16 ].…”