BMC Cardiovascular Disorders (Jul 2011)

High sensitive troponin T and heart fatty acid binding protein: Novel biomarker in heart failure with normal ejection fraction?: A cross-sectional study

  • Barroso Michael,
  • Scheffold Thomas,
  • Zdunek Dietmar,
  • Hess Georg,
  • Lankisch Mark,
  • Füth Reiner,
  • Nickl Werner,
  • Dinh Wilfried,
  • Tiroch Klaus,
  • Ziegler Dan,
  • Seyfarth Melchior

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2261-11-41
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
p. 41

Abstract

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Abstract Background High sensitive troponin T (hsTnT) and heart fatty acid binding protein (hFABP) are both markers of myocardial injury and predict adverse outcome in patients with systolic heart failure (SHF). We tested whether hsTnT and hFABP plasma levels are elevated in patients with heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFnEF). Methods We analyzed hsTnT, hFABP and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide in 130 patients comprising 49 HFnEF patients, 51 patients with asymptomatic left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), and 30 controls with normal diastolic function. Patients were classified to have HFnEF when the diagnostic criteria as recommended by the European Society of Cardiology were met. Results Levels of hs TnT and hFABP were significantly higher in patients with asymptomatic LVDD and HFnEF (both p Conclusion In HFnEF patients, hsTnT and hFABP are elevated independent of coronary artery disease, suggesting that ongoing myocardial damage plays a critical role in the pathophysiology. A combination of biomarkers and echocardiographic parameters might improve diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification of patients with HFnEF.