[Lymphocyte GRK2 expression of the very elderly with chronic heart failure].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation of lymphocyte G protein-coupled receptor kinases 2 (GRK2) expression of the very elderly with chronic heart failure (HF) and heart ejection fraction (EF). METHODS: 16 elderly patients with chronic heart failure were divided into 2 groups as following EF < 45% (n=7), EF > or = 45% (n=9); and health elderly as control (n=8). Lymphocytes were obtained from blood, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were used to measure GRK2 mRNA levels. RESULTS: Lymphocyte GRK2 mRNA levels of EF < 45% group were higher than that of EF > 45% group, which were greater than that of control. CONCLUSION: Elevation of lymphocyte GRK2 levels in HF is associated with heart EF, lymphocytes may provide a surrogate for monitoring cardiac GRK2 in human HF.