Circulating miR-122-5p/miR-133b Ratio Is a Specific Early Prognostic Biomarker in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in cardiovascular development and disease. However, not only miRNAs of a cardiac origin have a critical role in heart function. Recent studies have demonstrated that miR-122-5p, a hepatic miRNA, increases in the bloodstream during ischemic cardiogenic shock and it is upregulated in the infarcted myocardium. The aim of the present study was to determine the potential of circulating miR-122-5p as a biomarker for early prognostic stratification of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred and forty-two consecutive STEMI patients treated with primary angioplasty were included in the study. Serum levels of miR-1-3p, -122-5p, -133a-3p, -133b, -208b-3p and -499a-5p were measured at the time of cardiac catheterization by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and related to in-hospital and long-term outcome. During a follow up of 20.8 months, 9 patients died, 6 had recurrence of myocardial infarction, and 26 patients suffered an adverse cardiovascular event. Event-free survival was significantly worse in patients with a higher miR-122-5p/133b ratio (3rd tertile distribution, above 1.42 Log(10)), having almost a 9-fold higher risk of death or myocardial infarction and a 4-fold higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the miR-122-5p/133b ratio is a new prognostic biomarker for the early identification of STEMI patients at a higher risk of developing major adverse events after undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. (Circ J 2016; 80: 2183-2191).

Prognostic stratification in pulmonary hypertension: A multi-biomarker approach. / Estratificação prognóstica na hipertensão pulmonar: valor acrescido da abordagem multibiomarcadores.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) covers a group of conditions characterized by an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure. Risk stratification is crucial for adequate prognostic and therapeutic assessment. However, the accuracy of conventional parameters is limited, especially biomarkers. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prognostic value of new biomarkers and their combination in a multi-biomarker approach to predict outcome in patients with PH. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, PH patients underwent clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory assessment, including quantification of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and of the following new biomarkers: mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), copeptin, endothelin-1, mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) and soluble ST2 (sST2), the interleukin-33 receptor. The accuracy of the different parameters for predicting all-cause mortality and death or hospitalization of cardiac causes was determined. The prognostic value of a multi-biomarker score based on the tertile distribution of serum NT-proBNP, MR-proANP, renin and sST2 was compared to conventional markers. RESULTS: Forty-three patients (72.1% female, age 59±15 years) were included, most of whom (65.1%) had group 1 PH. During a median follow-up of 34 months, 26% of the patients died and 35% were hospitalized for cardiac causes. Atrial and ventricular dimensions and right ventricular fractional area change were prognostic predictors. Log NT-proBNP (HR: 31.14; 95% CI: 3.12-310.7; p=0.003) and renin (HR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.005-1.038; p=0.009) were independent predictors of mortality. MR-proANP (HR: 1.008; 95% CI 1.004-1.011; p<0.001) and sST2 (HR: 1.005; 95% CI 1.001-1.009; p=0.04) were predictors of death or hospitalization. The prognostic value of the multi-biomarker score was higher than any of the conventional parameters, and enabled identification of risk groups (the high-risk group had three-year mortality of 77.8%). CONCLUSION: A multi-biomarker approach was superior for risk stratification to any single marker. A score that incorporates NT-proBNP, MR-proANP, renin and sST2 accurately identifies patients at low, intermediate and high risk.

An exploratory panel of biomarkers for risk prediction in pulmonary hypertension: emerging role of CT-proET-1.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, deadly condition. Although risk stratification is extremely important for assessment of prognosis and to guide therapy, there is lack of evidence concerning the role of novel biomarkers. In a pivotal study, we sought to comparatively investigate the predictive power of several new biomarkers in PAH. METHODS: Patients with prevalent PAH were enrolled in the study protocol, which included clinical, functional and echocardiographic assessment. Blood samples were collected at baseline for determination of NT-proBNP, CT-proET-1, MR-proANP, MR-proADM, copeptin and troponin I. Patients were clinically followed-up up to 12 months for first occurrence of hospital admission due to PAH-related clinical worsening, heart/lung transplantation or all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Among the 28 included patients the pre-specified end-point occurred in 8 (29% event rate). There were higher baseline levels of CT-proET-1, copeptin, MR-proANP, NT-proBNP and troponin I in patients who reached the composite end-point. They also had larger right atria. In multivariate Cox regression, CT-proET-1 was the only biomarker associated with increased hazard of reaching the primary composite end-point (hazard ratio per tertile increase = 10.1; 95% CI 2.0 to 50.6). CONCLUSIONS: CT-proET-1 provided prognostic information independent of other biomarkers. Importantly, we have provided the first evidence that CT-proET-1 may be superior to commonly used biomarkers.