Detection of Soluble ED-A+ Fibronectin and Evaluation as Novel Serum Biomarker for Cardiac Tissue Remodeling

Abstract EN

Background and Aims.

Fibronectin containing the extra domain A (ED-A+ Fn) was proven to serve as a valuable biomarker for cardiac remodeling.

The study was aimed at establishing an ELISA to determine ED-A+ Fn in serum of heart failure patients.

Methods.

ED-A+ Fn was quantified in serum samples from 114 heart failure patients due to ischemic (ICM, n = 44 ) and dilated (DCM, n = 39 ) cardiomyopathy as well as hypertensive heart disease (HHD, n = 31 ) compared to healthy controls ( n = 12 ).

Results.

In comparison to healthy volunteers, heart failure patients showed significantly increased levels of ED-A+ Fn ( p < 0.001 ).

In particular in ICM patients there were significant associations between ED-A+ Fn serum levels and clinical parameters, for example, increased levels with rising NYHA class ( p = 0.013 ), a negative correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction ( p = 0.026 , r : −0.353), a positive correlation with left atrial diameter ( p = 0.008 , r : 0.431), and a strong positive correlation with systolic pulmonary artery pressure ( p = 0.002 , r : 0.485).

In multivariate analysis, ED-A+ Fn was identified as an independent predictor of an ischemic heart failure etiology.

Conclusions.

The current study could clearly show that ED-A+ Fn is a promising biomarker in cardiovascular diseases, especially in heart failure patients due to an ICM.

We presented a valid ELISA method, which could be applied for further studies investigating the value of ED-A+ Fn.