The relationships between serum heart‐type fatty acid‐binding protein and right ventricular echocardiographic indices in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Background Heart‐type Fatty Acid‐Binding Protein (H‐FABP) has been used in the diagnosis of myocardial damage. In this study, we assessed the relationships between serum H‐FABP as a marker of cardiac injury and right ventricle (RV) echocardiographic indices in patients with stable COPD. Materials and methods In this case‐control study, 84 participants were investigated (50 COPD patients and 34 healthy subjects). After obtaining consent, 3 mL of fasting whole blood sample was collected from each of the participants to test their serum H‐FABP. Echocardiography was performed on all participants by cardiologists. Results Serum H‐FABP was found to be significantly correlated with smoking history (P < 0.01), Systolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure (S‐PAP), RV Wall Thickness (RV‐WT), and Tricuspid annulus posts systolic excursion (TAPSE) (P < 0.01 for all). RV Basal Diameter (RV‐BD), RV Mid Diameter (RV‐MD), and Fractional area change percentage (FAC%) were not observed to have any correlation with serum H‐FABP. Also, the comparative analysis showed statistically significant differences between mean RV‐MD (P < 0.001), RV‐BD, FAC%, S‐PAP, RV‐WT (P < 0.001), and TAPSE (P < 0.05) of patients at different GOLD stages. There was a significant correlation between the adjusted serum level of H‐FABP and the airflow limitation based on FEV1 (P < 0.001). Conclusion The correlation between serum H‐FABP and RV echocardiographic indices such as S‐PAP, RV‐WT, and TAPSE, can be related to RV function in COPD patients. Moreover, RV echocardiographic indices are significantly correlated with the severity of COPD as classified in various GOLD stages.