Open AccessPreliminary Biomarkers for Identification of Human Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
Author(s) -
Black Kendra M.,
Masuzawa Akihiro,
Hagberg Robert C.,
Khabbaz Kamal R.,
Trovato Mary E.,
Rettagliati Verna M.,
Bhasin Manoj K.,
Dillon Simon T.,
Libermann Towia A.,
Toumpoulis Ioannis K.,
Levitsky Sidney,
McCully James D.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the american heart association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.494
H-Index - 85
ISSN - 2047-9980
DOI - 10.1161/jaha.113.000138
Subject(s) - medicine , thoracic aortic aneurysm , bicuspid aortic valve , biomarker , aortic aneurysm , cardiology , aortic dissection , aneurysm , dissection (medical) , pathology , surgery , aortic valve , aorta , biochemistry , chemistry
Background Human ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms ( ATAAs ) are life threatening and constitute a leading cause of mortality in the United States . Previously, we demonstrated that collagens α2(V) and α1(XI) mRNA and protein expression levels are significantly increased in ATAAs . Methods and Results In this report, the authors extended these preliminary studies using high‐throughput proteomic analysis to identify additional biomarkers for use in whole blood real‐time RT ‐ PCR analysis to allow for the identification of ATAAs before dissection or rupture. Human ATAA samples were obtained from male and female patients aged 65±14 years. Both bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve patients were included and compared with nonaneurysmal aortas (mean diameter 2.3 cm). Five biomarkers were identified as being suitable for detection and identification of ATAAs using q RT ‐ PCR analysis of whole blood. Analysis of 41 samples (19 small, 13 medium‐sized, and 9 large ATAAs ) demonstrated the overexpression of 3 of these transcript biomarkers correctly identified 79.4% of patients with ATAA of ≥4.0 cm ( P <0.001, sensitivity 0.79, CI =0.62 to 0.91; specificity 1.00, 95% CI =0.42 to 1.00). Conclusion A preliminary transcript biomarker panel for the identification of ATAAs using whole blood q RT ‐ PCR analysis in men and women is presented.