The Prognostic Role of Biomarkers in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure

Objective Investigate the role of biomarkers in the prognosis of the clinical course of the disease in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of different NYHA functional classes (FC). Material and Methods The study included 132 patients with CHF: Group 1 was composed of 70 patients with NYHA FC II CHF, and Group 2 included 62 patients with FC III-IV CHF. The patients underwent clinical, instrumental, functional, and laboratory measurements, which included serum concentrations of NT-proBNP, ST-2, galectin-3, and C-reactive protein. Patients were examined at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 mos of follow-up. The following cardiac complications were used as endpoints: urgent hospitalization due to decompensated CHF, heart transplantation, cardiovascular death. Endpoints were registered during the 12-mo follow-up period. Results Endpoints were recorded for 58 patients (44%) of the total sample of patients with CHF: 38 patients were urgently hospitalized, 10 patients underwent heart transplantation, 10 patients died. Cardiac complications were recorded at a higher rate in patients with FC III-IV CHF (63% vs. 27% of patients with FC II; p 1723 pg/ml or, if NT-proBNP 311 ml. For FC III-IV CHF, ST-2 > 67 ng/mL or, if ST-2 61 mm Hg. Galectin-3 has a prognostic value for the clinical course of the disease at different follow-up periods in patients with CHF and DM2: galectin-3 concentrations > 16 ng/mL and 13-16 ng/mL are risk factors for mid- and long-term cardiac complications, respectively.