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Plasma urocortin 1 in human heart failure
Sue P Wright1, Robert N Doughty, Chris M Frampton
1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Circulation. Heart Failure
|October 8, 2009
Summary
Plasma urocortin 1 is elevated in heart failure patients, correlating with disease severity and neurohormonal activation. This peptide shows potential as a diagnostic marker for heart failure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Urocortins are implicated in cardiovascular regulation and may offer cardioprotection.
- Limited data exists on urocortin plasma concentrations in health and disease.
- Urocortins exhibit hemodynamic, renal, and neurohumoral effects, particularly in cardiac failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate plasma urocortin 1 as a potential diagnostic marker for heart failure.
- Assess relationships between urocortin 1 levels and heart failure symptoms, cardiac function, and other neurohormones.
Main Methods:
- Assayed plasma urocortin 1 and vasoactive hormones in 299 primary care patients presenting with dyspnea or edema.
- Performed echocardiography to assess cardiac function and dimensions.
- Diagnosed heart failure based on predefined criteria.
Main Results:
- Heart failure was diagnosed in 74 patients (25%).
- Elevated urocortin 1 levels were observed in heart failure patients.
- Urocortin 1 correlated with functional class, clinical signs, echocardiographic parameters, creatinine, and other neurohormones (natriuretic peptides, adrenomedullin, endothelin 1).
Conclusions:
- Plasma urocortin 1 is elevated in heart failure, proportional to cardiac dysfunction.
- Urocortin 1 levels reflect generalized neurohormonal activation in heart failure.
- Urocortin 1 predicts heart failure independently of common clinical factors and NT-proBNP.
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