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Plasma YKL-40 levels are elevated in patients with chronic heart failure

Camilla Noelle Rathcke1, Caroline Kistorp, Ilan Raymond

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Denmark. cnr@dadlnet.dk

Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal : SCJ
|December 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Plasma YKL-40 levels are higher in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients but do not predict mortality or cardiovascular events. Elevated YKL-40 in CHF may stem from other conditions, not solely inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cardiology
  • Inflammation markers

Background:

  • Congestive heart failure (CHF) is linked to chronic low-grade inflammation and elevated biomarkers.
  • YKL-40, a specific biomarker, increases with cardiovascular disease (CVD) severity and correlates with mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate plasma YKL-40 levels in CHF patients.
  • To evaluate the predictive value of YKL-40 for overall mortality and recurrent cardiovascular outcomes in CHF.

Main Methods:

  • Plasma YKL-40 levels were measured in 194 CHF patients.
  • A control group of 117 age-matched individuals without CVD was included for comparison.

Main Results:

  • CHF patients exhibited significantly higher median YKL-40 levels (106 ng/ml) compared to controls (60 ng/ml).
  • A trend suggested an association between YKL-40 and the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR).
  • YKL-40 levels did not predict overall mortality, major cardiovascular events, or decompensation events.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma YKL-40 levels are elevated in CHF patients.
  • YKL-40 levels in CHF were not associated with clinical variables or predictive of adverse outcomes.
  • Elevated YKL-40 in CHF may be attributed to comorbidities, though a role in low-grade inflammation is not ruled out.
Abstract

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