Trajectories of Changes in Renal Function in Patients with Acute Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Changes in renal function have been associated with differential outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (HF). However, individual trajectories of changes in renal function are unknown, and it is unclear whether they relate to different clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes. Our aim was to investigate the prognostic importance of individual trajectories of change in renal function in acute HF. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational analysis from the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled PROTECT trial in patients with acute HF. We identified and internally validated 8 different renal trajectories among 1897 patients by visual inspection of inhospital serum creatinine changes. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 180 days. Mean age was 70 ± 12 years; 70% were male, and mean baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate was 49.0 mL/min/1.73m2. RESULTS: A total of 8 different trajectories was established. The most prevalent trajectories were an inhospital bump (19.0%), a sustained increase (17.6%) and a dip (14.5%) in serum creatinine. Overall, the clinical characteristics of patients in different trajectories were remarkably similar. Crude 180-day mortality rates ranged from 12.0% in the trajectory, with no significant changes to 18.3% in the trajectory of sustained increase without significant differences. Overall, after multivariable adjustment, there was no trajectory of changes in renal function that was associated with significantly better or worse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Trajectories of changes in renal function in acute HF differ considerably on the patient level. Despite these differences, clinical characteristics and outcomes were similar, therefore, questioning the prognostic importance of changes in renal function in acute HF.

Clinical Correlates and Prognostic Value of Proenkephalin in Acute and Chronic Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Proenkephalin (pro-ENK) has emerged as a novel biomarker associated with both renal function and cardiac function. However, its clinical and prognostic value have not been well evaluated in symptomatic patients with heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: The association between pro-ENK and markers of renal function was evaluated in 95 patients with chronic heart failure who underwent renal hemodynamic measurements, including renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with the use of 131I-Hippuran and 125I-iothalamate clearances, respectively. The association between pro-ENK and clinical outcome in acute heart failure was assessed in another 1589 patients. Pro-ENK was strongly correlated with both RBF (P < .001) and GFR (P < .001), but not with renal tubular markers. In the acute heart failure cohort, pro-ENK was a predictor of death through 180 days, heart failure rehospitalization through 60 days, and death or cardiovascular or renal rehospitalization through day 60 in univariable analyses, but its predictive value was lost in a multivariable model when other renal markers were entered in the model. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic and acute heart failure, pro-ENK is strongly associated with glomerular function, but not with tubular damage. Pro-ENK provides limited prognostic information in patients with acute heart failure on top of established renal markers.

Identifying Subpopulations with Distinct Response to Treatment Using Plasma Biomarkers in Acute Heart Failure: Results from the PROTECT Trial : Differential Response in Acute Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Over the last 50 years, clinical trials of novel interventions for acute heart failure (AHF) have, with few exceptions, been neutral or shown harm. We hypothesize that this might be related to a differential response to pharmacological therapy. METHODS: We studied the magnitude of treatment effect of rolofylline across clinical characteristics and plasma biomarkers in 2033 AHF patients and derived a biomarker-based responder sum score model. Treatment response was survival from all-cause mortality through day 180. RESULTS: In the overall study population, rolofylline had no effect on mortality (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.82-1.28, p = 0.808). We found no treatment interaction across clinical characteristics, but we found interactions between several biomarkers and rolofylline. The biomarker-based sum score model included TNF-R1α, ST2, WAP four-disulfide core domain protein HE4 (WAP-4C), and total cholesterol, and the score ranged between 0 and 4. In patients with score 4 (those with increased TNF-R1α, ST2, WAP-4C, and low total cholesterol), treatment with rolofylline was beneficial (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.40-0.92, p = 0.019). In patients with score 0, treatment with rolofylline was harmful (HR 5.52, 95% CI 1.68-18.13, p = 0.005; treatment by score interaction p < 0.001). Internal validation estimated similar hazard ratio estimates (0 points: HR 5.56, 95% CI 5.27-7-5.87; 1 point: HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.25-1.33; 2 points: HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.74-0.76; 3 points: HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.11-1.15; 4 points, HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.61-0.62) compared to the original data. CONCLUSION: Biomarkers are superior to clinical characteristics to study treatment heterogeneity in acute heart failure.

Plasma Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Predicting Clinically Relevant Worsening Renal Function in Acute Heart Failure.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) to predict clinically relevant worsening renal function (WRF) in acute heart failure (AHF). Plasma NGAL and serum creatinine changes during the first 4 days of admission were investigated in 1447 patients hospitalized for AHF and enrolled in the Placebo-Controlled Randomized Study of the Selective A1Adenosine Receptor Antagonist Rolofylline for Patients Hospitalized with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Volume Overload to Assess Treatment Effect on Congestion and Renal Function (PROTECT) study. WRF was defined as serum creatinine rise ≥ 0.3 mg/dL through day 4. Biomarker patterns were described using linear mixed models. WRF developed in 325 patients (22%). Plasma NGAL did not rise earlier than creatinine in patients with WRF. After multivariable adjustment, baseline plasma NGAL, but not creatinine, predicted WRF. AUCs for WRF prediction were modest (<0.60) for all models. NGAL did not independently predict death or rehospitalization (p = n.s.). Patients with WRF and high baseline plasma NGAL had a greater risk of death, and renal or cardiovascular rehospitalization by 60 days than patients with WRF and a low baseline plasma NGAL (p for interaction = 0.024). A rise in plasma NGAL after baseline was associated with a worse outcome in patients with WRF, but not in patients without WRF (p = 0.007). On the basis of these results, plasma NGAL does not provide additional, clinically relevant information about the occurrence of WRF in patients with AHF.

Diuretic response in acute heart failure: clinical characteristics and prognostic significance.

AIM: Diminished diuretic response is common in patients with acute heart failure, although a clinically useful definition is lacking. Our aim was to investigate a practical, workable metric for diuretic response, examine associated patient characteristics and relationships with outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined diuretic response (defined as Δ weight kg/40 mg furosemide) in 1745 hospitalized acute heart failure patients from the PROTECT trial. Day 4 response was used to allow maximum differentiation in responsiveness and tailoring of diuretic doses to clinical response, following sensitivity analyses. We investigated predictors of diuretic response and relationships with outcome. The median diuretic response was -0.38 (-0.80 to -0.13) kg/40 mg furosemide. Poor diuretic response was independently associated with low systolic blood pressure, high blood urea nitrogen, diabetes, and atherosclerotic disease (all P < 0.05). Worse diuretic response independently predicted 180-day mortality (HR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.11-1.81, P = 0.005), 60-day death or renal or cardiovascular rehospitalization (HR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.14-1.59, P < 0.001) and 60-day HF rehospitalization (HR: 1.57; 95% CI: 1.24-2.01, P < 0.001) in multivariable models. The proposed metric-weight loss indexed to diuretic dose-better captures a dose-response relationship. Model diagnostics showed diuretic response provided essentially the same or slightly better prognostic information compared with its individual components (weight loss and diuretic dose) in this population, while providing a less biased, more easily interpreted signal. CONCLUSIONS: Worse diuretic response was associated with more advanced heart failure, renal impairment, diabetes, atherosclerotic disease and in-hospital worsening heart failure, and predicts mortality and heart failure rehospitalization in this post hoc, hypothesis-generating study.

Rolofylline, an adenosine A1-receptor antagonist, in acute heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Worsening renal function, which is associated with adverse outcomes, often develops in patients with acute heart failure. Experimental and clinical studies suggest that counterregulatory responses mediated by adenosine may be involved. We tested the hypothesis that the use of rolofylline, an adenosine A1-receptor antagonist, would improve dyspnea, reduce the risk of worsening renal function, and lead to a more favorable clinical course in patients with acute heart failure. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving patients hospitalized for acute heart failure with impaired renal function. Within 24 hours after presentation, 2033 patients were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive daily intravenous rolofylline (30 mg) or placebo for up to 3 days. The primary end point was treatment success, treatment failure, or no change in the patient's clinical condition; this end point was defined according to survival, heart-failure status, and changes in renal function. Secondary end points were the post-treatment development of persistent renal impairment and the 60-day rate of death or readmission for cardiovascular or renal causes. RESULTS: Rolofylline, as compared with placebo, did not provide a benefit with respect to the primary end point (odds ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 1.09; P=0.35). Persistent renal impairment developed in 15.0% of patients in the rolofylline group and in 13.7% of patients in the placebo group (P=0.44). By 60 days, death or readmission for cardiovascular or renal causes had occurred in similar proportions of patients assigned to rolofylline and placebo (30.7% and 31.9%, respectively; P=0.86). Adverse-event rates were similar overall; however, only patients in the rolofylline group had seizures, a known potential adverse effect of A1-receptor antagonists. CONCLUSIONS: Rolofylline did not have a favorable effect with respect to the primary clinical composite end point, nor did it improve renal function or 60-day outcomes. It does not show promise in the treatment of acute heart failure with renal dysfunction. (Funded by NovaCardia, a subsidiary of Merck; ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT00328692 and NCT00354458.).

Early dyspnoea relief in acute heart failure: prevalence, association with mortality, and effect of rolofylline in the PROTECT Study.

AIMS: Dyspnoea and pulmonary and/or peripheral congestion are the most frequent manifestations of acute heart failure (AHF) and are important targets for therapy. We have assessed changes in dyspnoea, their relationship with mortality, and the effects of the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist rolofylline on these endpoints in patients enrolled in the PROTECT trial. METHODS AND RESULTS: PROTECT was a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing the effect of rolofylline in patients hospitalized for AHF with dyspnoea, fluid overload, increased plasma natriuretic peptides, and mild-to-moderate renal dysfunction. Early dyspnoea relief, prospectively defined as moderately or markedly better dyspnoea at both 24 and 48 h after the start of study drug administration, occurred in 49.8% of the patients. Early dyspnoea relief was associated with greater weight loss and with reduced mortality at Days 14 and 30 [hazard ratio (HR) 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15, 0.50; and 0.35, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.55, respectively]. Rolofylline administration was associated with an increase in the proportion of patients showing early dyspnoea relief (HR 1.30; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.57) and with a numerically lower mortality at 14 and 30 days, largely driven by the mortality due to HF [at 30 days, HR (95% CI, P-value): 0.65 (0.38-1.10, P= 0.107)]. Rolofylline did not reduce episodes of in-hospital worsening HF or post-discharge re-admissions, nor did it improve survival at 60 or 180 days. CONCLUSION: The present analysis from PROTECT demonstrated that more weight loss was associated with early dyspnoea relief and reduced short-term mortality.

Factor XI Inhibition to Uncouple Thrombosis From Hemostasis: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Hemostasis and thrombosis are believed to be so intricately linked that any strategies that reduce thrombosis will have an inevitable impact on hemostasis. Consequently, bleeding is viewed as an unavoidable side effect of anticoagulant therapy. Emerging evidence suggests that factor XI is important for thrombosis but has a minor role in hemostasis. This information raises the possibility that anticoagulants that target factor XI will be safer than currently available agents. The authors provide a visual representation of the coagulation pathways that distinguishes between the steps involved in thrombosis and hemostasis to explain why factor XI inhibitors may serve as hemostasis-sparing anticoagulants. A safer class of anticoagulants would provide opportunities for treatment of a wider range of patients, including those at high risk for bleeding. Ongoing clinical studies will determine the extent to which factor XI inhibitors attenuate thrombosis without disruption of hemostasis.

CRD-733, a Novel PDE9 (Phosphodiesterase 9) Inhibitor, Reverses Pressure Overload-Induced Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Augmentation of NP (natriuretic peptide) receptor and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling has emerged as a therapeutic strategy in heart failure (HF). cGMP-specific PDE9 (phosphodiesterase 9) inhibition increases cGMP signaling and attenuates stress-induced hypertrophic heart disease in preclinical studies. A novel cGMP-specific PDE9 inhibitor, CRD-733, is currently being advanced in human clinical studies. Here, we explore the effects of chronic PDE9 inhibition with CRD-733 in the mouse transverse aortic constriction pressure overload HF model. METHODS: Adult male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to transverse aortic constriction and developed significant left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy after 7 days (P<0.001). Mice then received daily treatment with CRD-733 (600 mg/kg per day; n=10) or vehicle (n=17), alongside sham-operated controls (n=10). RESULTS: CRD-733 treatment reversed existing LV hypertrophy compared with vehicle (P<0.001), significantly improved LV ejection fraction (P=0.009), and attenuated left atrial dilation (P<0.001), as assessed by serial echocardiography. CRD-733 prevented elevations in LV end diastolic pressures (P=0.037) compared with vehicle, while lung weights, a surrogate for pulmonary edema, were reduced to sham levels. Chronic CRD-733 treatment increased plasma cGMP levels compared with vehicle (P<0.001), alongside increased phosphorylation of Ser273 of cardiac myosin binding protein-C, a cGMP-dependent protein kinase I phosphorylation site. CONCLUSIONS: The PDE9 inhibitor, CRD-733, improves key hallmarks of HF including LV hypertrophy, LV dysfunction, left atrial dilation, and pulmonary edema after pressure overload in the mouse transverse aortic constriction HF model. Additionally, elevated plasma cGMP may be used as a biomarker of target engagement. These findings support future investigation into the therapeutic potential of CRD-733 in human HF.

Design and rationale of the PROTECT study: a placebo-controlled randomized study of the selective A1 adenosine receptor antagonist rolofylline for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure and volume overload to assess treatment effect on congestion and renal function.

BACKGROUND: Current treatment for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is associated with incomplete resolution of symptoms and signs, recurrent symptoms of heart failure in-hospital and after discharge and high mortality. Studies have consistently demonstrated an association between worsening renal function in ADHF and adverse outcomes. Adenosine A(1) receptor antagonists, such as rolofylline, appear in preliminary studies to produce potentially beneficial effects on natriuresis, diuresis, renal blood flow, and glomerular filtration rate. In a previous dose-finding study, rolofylline 30 mg intravenously daily for 3 days was associated with symptom improvement, less worsening of renal function, and trends toward lower 60-day rates of death or readmission for cardiovascular or renal causes. METHODS AND RESULTS: This manuscript describes the rationale underlying the design of the phase 3 PROTECT (Placebo-controlled Randomized study of the selective A(1) adenosine receptor antagonist rolofylline for patients hospitalized with acute heart failure and volume Overload to assess Treatment Effect on Congestion and renal funcTion) trial. CONCLUSION: Rolofylline 30 mg or matching placebo was given intravenously as a 4-hour continuous infusion on 3 consecutive days and the hospital course was assessed by measurements dyspnea, clinical status, renal function, and subsequent morbidity and mortality in a large population of patients with ADHF with renal impairment.

Physician-determined worsening heart failure: a novel definition for early worsening heart failure in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure--association with signs and symptoms, hospitalization duration, and 60-day outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate physician-determined worsening heart failure (PD-WHF) in patients admitted with acute heart failure (AHF). METHODS: The PROTECT pilot study evaluated rolofylline, an adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist, versus placebo in patients with AHF and renal impairment. Signs and symptoms of heart failure (HF) and diuretic administration were prospectively recorded daily for 7 days and patients were followed for 60 days. Patients were categorized into three groups: (A) PD-WHF, based on worsening symptoms and signs of HF and need for additional intravenous (IV) or mechanical therapy (n = 29); (B) increased IV diuretic therapy without PD-WHF (n = 61), and (C) neither PD-WHF nor increase in IV diuretic dose (n = 211). RESULTS: Patients in group A had slower resolution of dyspnea, longer mean (+/-SD) length of hospitalization (13.8 +/- 6.8 vs. 10.5 +/- 8.5 and 9.3 +/- 5.9 days in groups B and C, respectively; p < 0.05 for both), and higher 60-day death and cardiovascular or renal readmission rates [49.7 (95% confidence interval: 33.1-69.1) vs. 37.3 (26.4-50.9) vs. 19.5% (14.7-25.6) in groups B and C, respectively]. PD-WHF was a strong independent predictor of length of stay and 60-day death and cardiovascular or renal readmission. CONCLUSIONS: PD-WHF may be an indicator of short-term risk and treatment efficacy in AHF.

A thorough QTc study to assess the effect of sitagliptin, a DPP4 inhibitor, on ventricular repolarization in healthy subjects.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-period crossover study was performed with a single oral dose of sitagliptin (100 mg, 800 mg), moxifloxacin (400 mg), and placebo in order to provide a rigorous assessment of the effect of sitagliptin on ventricular repolarization based on the ICH E14 guidance. The clinical dose of sitagliptin 100 mg was not associated with an increase in QTc interval, corrected using the Fridericia correction (QTcf), at any time point. The supratherapeutic 800-mg dose of sitagliptin was generally well tolerated and was associated with minimal, clinically insignificant prolongation of the QTcf interval at concentrations approximately 11-fold higher than maximal concentrations following the 100-mg clinical dose. The PK/QTc model demonstrated a shallow relationship between the plasma concentration of sitagliptin and the placebo-subtracted QTcf change from baseline, with a 0.59-millisecond increase in QTc for every 1000-nM increment in sitagliptin plasma concentration. The sensitivity of the assay to detect modest increases in QTc interval was established with the active control moxifloxacin. In conclusion, at clinically relevant concentrations, sitagliptin is not associated with clinically meaningful QTcf prolongation.

Effect of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor, anacetrapib, on lipoproteins in patients with dyslipidaemia and on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure in healthy individuals: two double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled phase I studies.

BACKGROUND: The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is considered a potential new mechanism for treatment of dyslipidaemia. Anacetrapib (MK-0859) is a CETP inhibitor currently under development. We aimed to assess anacetrapib's effects as monotherapy on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure. METHODS: We did two double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase I studies. In the first study, 50 patients with dyslipidaemia (LDL-C 100-190 mg/dL; 40 active, 10 placebo) aged 18-75 years received anacetrapib doses of 0, 10, 40, 150, or 300 mg orally once a day with a meal for 28 days. Standard lipid and lipoprotein monitoring, safety monitoring, and anacetrapib concentrations for pharmacokinetics were done. In the second study, 22 healthy participants aged 45-75 years received either 150 mg of anacetrapib once a day or matching placebo with a meal for 10 days in each crossover period, in a randomised sequence, with at least a 14-day washout between the treatment periods. Continuous 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was done on day -1 and day 10 of each treatment period in this study. The primary or secondary endpoints of safety and tolerability were assessed in both studies by monitoring clinical adverse experiences, physical examinations, vital signs, 12-lead electrocardiogram, and laboratory safety. Analysis was per protocol. These trials are registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00565292 and NCT00565006. FINDINGS: In the dyslipidaemia study, one patient withdrew consent and one was excluded from the data analysis for HDL-C and LDL-C because complete pre-dose measurements were not available. Anacetrapib produced dose-dependent lipid-altering effects with peak lipid-altering effects of 129% (mean 51.1 [SD 3.8]-114.9 [7.9] mg/dL) increase in HDL-C and a 38% (138.2 [11.4]-77.6 [7.9] mg/dL) decrease in LDL-C in patients with dyslipidaemia. In the 24-h ambulatory blood pressure study in healthy individuals, least squares difference between anacetrapib and placebo groups on day 10 were 0.60 (90% CI -1.54 to 2.74; p=0.634) mm Hg for systolic blood pressure and 0.47 (90% CI -0.90 to 1.84; p=0.561) mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. INTERPRETATION: Anacetrapib seems to exhibit HDL-C increases greater than those seen with other investigational drugs in this class and LDL-C lowering effects similar to statins. Despite greater lipid-altering effects relative to other members of this class, anacetrapib seems not to increase blood pressure, suggesting that potent CETP inhibition by itself might not lead to increased blood pressure.

The PROTECT pilot study: a randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study of the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist rolofylline in patients with acute heart failure and renal impairment.

BACKGROUND: Rolofylline, an adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist, facilitates diuresis and preserves renal function in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) with renal impairment. Although not powered around any specific hypothesis, this pilot study was designed to identify an efficacious dose while refining inclusion criteria and end points. METHODS: A total of 301 patients hospitalized for AHF with an estimated creatinine clearance of 20 to 80 mL/min and elevated natriuretic peptide levels were enrolled within 24 hours of presentation to placebo or rolofylline 10, 20, or 30 mg administered as 4-hour infusions for 3 days in addition to intravenously administered loop diuretics. Post hoc analyses for end points chosen for subsequent Phase III studies were performed. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, rolofylline produced trends toward greater proportions of patients with marked or moderately improved dyspnea and fewer patients with worsening heart failure or renal function. Serum creatinine increased in patients receiving placebo and remained stable or tended to decrease in those receiving rolofylline. On day 14 the absolute differences between placebo and rolofylline for change in creatinine increased with increasing rolofylline dose, reflecting the lesser increase in creatinine in rolofylline-treated patients (r = -0.12, P = .030). Treatment with 30 mg, the dose selected for the pivotal trials, was associated with a trend toward reduced 60-day mortality or readmission for cardiovascular or renal cause (hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-1.04). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that adenosine A(1) receptor blockade with rolofylline can prevent renal impairment in patients with AHF and may positively affect acute symptoms and 60-day outcome. A 2000-patient trial of this agent is now under way.

Prevalence, predictors and clinical outcome of residual congestion in acute decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Congestion is the main reason for hospital admission for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). A better understanding of the clinical course of congestion and factors associated with decongestion are therefore important. We studied the clinical course, predictors and prognostic value of congestion in a cohort of patients admitted for ADHF by including different indirect markers of congestion (residual clinical congestion, brain natriuretic peptides (BNP) trajectories, hemoconcentration or diuretic response). METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied the prognostic value of residual clinical congestion using an established composite congestion score (CCS) in 1572 ADHF patients. At baseline, 1528 (97.2%) patients were significantly congested (CCS ≥ 3), after 7 days of hospitalization or discharge (whichever came first), 451 (28.7%) patients were still significantly congested (CCS ≥ 3), 751 (47.8%) patients were mildly congested (CCS = 1 or 2) and 370 (23.5%) patients had no signs of residual congestion (CCS = 0). The presence of significant residual congestion at day 7 or discharge was independently associated with increased risk of re-admissions for heart failure by day 60 (HR [95%CI] = 1.88 [1.39-2.55]) and all-cause mortality by day 180 (HR [95%CI] = 1.54 [1.16-2.04]). Diuretic response provided added prognostic value on top of residual congestion and baseline predictors for both outcomes, yet gain in prognostic performance was modest. CONCLUSION: Most patients with acute decompensated heart failure still have residual congestion 7 days after hospitalization. This factor was associated with higher rates of re-hospitalization and death. Decongestion surrogates, such as diuretic response, added to residual congestion, are still significant predictors of outcomes, but they do not provide meaningful additive prognostic information.

Prognostic Significance of Creatinine Increases During an Acute Heart Failure Admission in Patients With and Without Residual Congestion: A Post Hoc Analysis of the PROTECT Data.

BACKGROUND: The importance of a serum creatinine increase, traditionally considered worsening renal function (WRF), during admission for acute heart failure has been recently debated, with data suggesting an interaction between congestion and creatinine changes. METHODS AND RESULTS: In post hoc analyses, we analyzed the association of WRF with length of hospital stay, 30-day death or cardiovascular/renal readmission and 90-day mortality in the PROTECT study (Placebo-Controlled Randomized Study of the Selective A1 Adenosine Receptor Antagonist Rolofylline for Patients Hospitalized With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Volume Overload to Assess Treatment Effect on Congestion and Renal Function). Daily creatinine changes from baseline were categorized as WRF (an increase of 0.3 mg/dL or more) or not. Daily congestion scores were computed by summing scores for orthopnea, edema, and jugular venous pressure. Of the 2033 total patients randomized, 1537 patients had both available at study day 14. Length of hospital stay was longer and 30-day cardiovascular/renal readmission or death more common in patients with WRF. However, these were driven by significant associations in patients with concomitant congestion at the time of assessment of renal function. The mean difference in length of hospital stay because of WRF was 3.51 (95% confidence interval, 1.29-5.73) more days (P=0.0019), and the hazard ratio for WRF on 30-day death or heart failure hospitalization was 1.49 (95% confidence interval, 1.06-2.09) times higher (P=0.0205), in significantly congested than nonsignificantly congested patients. A similar trend was observed with 90-day mortality although not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In patients admitted for acute heart failure, WRF defined as a creatinine increase of ≥0.3 mg/dL was associated with longer length of hospital stay, and worse 30- and 90-day outcomes. However, effects were largely driven by patients who had residual congestion at the time of renal function assessment. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifiers: NCT00328692 and NCT00354458.

Plasma biomarkers to predict or rule out early post-discharge events after hospitalization for acute heart failure.

AIM: Improved prediction of early post-discharge death or rehospitalization after admission for acute heart failure is a major unmet need. We evaluated the value of biomarkers to predict either low or high risk for early post-discharge events. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 1653 patients enrolled in the PROTECT trial who were discharged alive and with available blood samples were included. Forty-seven biomarkers were serially evaluated in these patients. Measurement closest to discharge was used to evaluate the predictive value of biomarkers for low and high post-discharge risk. Patients were classified as 'low risk' if post-discharge 30-day risk of death or heart failure rehospitalization was <5% while risk >20% was used to define 'high risk'. Cut-off values that yielded a 95% negative predictive value and a 20% positive predictive value were identified for each biomarker. Partial area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (pAUC) in the high-sensitivity and high-specificity regions was calculated to compare low-risk and high-risk predictive values. Of patients analysed, 193 (11.7%) patients reached the 30-day death or heart failure rehospitalization outcome. We found marked differences between low-risk and high-risk predictors. Cardiac-specific troponin I was the strongest biomarker for low-risk prediction (pAUC = 0.552, 95% confidence interval 0.52-0.58) while endothelin-1 showed better performance for high-risk prediction (pAUC = 0.560, 95% confidence interval 0.53-0.59). Several biomarkers (individually and in combination) provided added predictive value, on top of a clinical model, in both low-risk and high-risk regions. CONCLUSION: Different biomarkers predicted low risk vs. high risk of early post-discharge death or heart failure readmission in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure.

Biomarker Profiles of Acute Heart Failure Patients With a Mid-Range Ejection Fraction.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, the authors used biomarker profiles to characterize differences between patients with acute heart failure with a midrange ejection fraction (HFmrEF) and compare them with patients with a reduced (heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF]) and preserved (heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction [HFpEF]) ejection fraction. BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on biomarker profiles in acute HFmrEF. METHODS: A panel of 37 biomarkers from different pathophysiological domains (e.g., myocardial stretch, inflammation, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, hematopoiesis) were measured at admission and after 24 h in 843 acute heart failure patients from the PROTECT trial. HFpEF was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥50% (n = 108), HFrEF as LVEF of <40% (n = 607), and HFmrEF as LVEF of 40% to 49% (n = 128). RESULTS: Hemoglobin and brain natriuretic peptide levels (300 pg/ml [HFpEF]; 397 pg/ml [HFmrEF]; 521 pg/ml [HFrEF]; ptrend <0.001) showed an upward trend with decreasing LVEF. Network analysis showed that in HFrEF interactions between biomarkers were mostly related to cardiac stretch, whereas in HFpEF, biomarker interactions were mostly related to inflammation. In HFmrEF, biomarker interactions were both related to inflammation and cardiac stretch. In HFpEF and HFmrEF (but not in HFrEF), remodeling markers at admission and changes in levels of inflammatory markers across the first 24 h were predictive for all-cause mortality and rehospitalization at 60 days (pinteraction <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Biomarker profiles in patients with acute HFrEF were mainly related to cardiac stretch and in HFpEF related to inflammation. Patients with HFmrEF showed an intermediate biomarker profile with biomarker interactions between both cardiac stretch and inflammation markers. (PROTECT-1: A Study of the Selective A1 Adenosine Receptor Antagonist KW-3902 for Patients Hospitalized With Acute HF and Volume Overload to Assess Treatment Effect on Congestion and Renal Function; NCT00328692).

A network analysis to compare biomarker profiles in patients with and without diabetes mellitus in acute heart failure.

AIMS: It is unclear whether distinct pathophysiological processes are present among patients with acute heart failure (AHF), with and without diabetes. Network analysis of biomarkers may identify correlative associations that reflect different pathophysiological pathways. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed a panel of 48 circulating biomarkers measured within 24 h of admission for AHF in a subset of patients enrolled in the PROTECT trial. In patients with and without diabetes, we performed a network analysis to identify correlations between measured biomarkers. Compared with patients without diabetes (n = 1111), those with diabetes (n = 922) had a higher prevalence of ischaemic heart disease and traditional coronary risk factors. After multivariable adjustment, patients with and without diabetes had significantly different levels of biomarkers across a spectrum of pathophysiological domains, including inflammation (TNFR-1a, periostin), cardiomyocyte stretch (BNP), angiogenesis (VEGFR, angiogenin), and renal function (NGAL, KIM-1) (adjusted P-value <0.05). Among patients with diabetes, network analysis revealed that periostin strongly clustered with C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. Furthermore, renal markers (creatinine and NGAL) closely associated with potassium and glucose. These findings were not seen among patients without diabetes. CONCLUSION: Patients with AHF and diabetes, compared with those without diabetes, have distinct biomarker profiles. Network analysis suggests that cardiac remodelling, inflammation, and fibrosis are closely associated with each other in patients with diabetes. Furthermore, potassium levels may be sensitive to changes in renal function as reflected by the strong renal-potassium-glucose correlation. These findings were not seen among patients without diabetes and may suggest distinct pathophysiological processes among AHF patients with diabetes.

Associations of Body Mass Index With Laboratory and Biomarkers in Patients With Acute Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides decline with obesity in patients with heart failure. Whether this is true for other biomarkers is unknown. We investigated a wide range of biomarker profiles in acute heart failure across the body mass index (BMI) spectrum. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 48 biomarkers, assessing multiple pathophysiological pathways, were measured in 2033 patients included in PROTECT (Placebo-Controlled Randomized Study of the Selective A1 Adenosine Receptor Antagonist Rolofylline for Patients Hospitalized With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Volume Overload to Assess Treatment Effect on Congestion and Renal Function), a trial comparing the effects of rolofylline to placebo in patients with acute heart failure. Patients were classified into 4 groups according to BMI (<25, 25-30, 30-35, and >35 kg/m2). Of 2003 patients with known weight and height, mean age was 70±12 years and 67% were men. Patients with a higher BMI (>35 kg/m2) had higher blood pressures, were younger, and were more often women. Median levels of brain natriuretic peptide were 550 pg/mL in patients with a BMI <25 kg/m2 and 319 pg/mL in patients with a BMI >35 kg/m2 (P<0.001). Multivariable regression revealed that brain natriuretic peptide (ß=-0.250; P<0.001) and receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (ß=-0.095; P<0.007) were inversely correlated to BMI, whereas higher levels of uric acid (ß=0.164; P<0.001), proadrenomedullin (ß=0.171; P<0.001), creatinine (ß=0.118; P=0.003), sodium (ß=0.101; P=0.006), and bicarbonate (ß=0.094; P=0.009) were associated with higher BMI. No significant interaction was seen between these 7 biomarkers and BMI on 180-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The plasma concentrations of several biomarkers are either positively or negatively influenced by BMI. These findings suggest that these markers should be interpreted with caution in patients with obesity. Although concentrations differ, their prognostic value for mortality up to 180 days did not differ. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00354458.