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Published on: January 28, 2020
Plasma CA-125 level is related to both sides of the heart: a retrospective analysis
Mehmet Birhan Yilmaz1, Ali Zorlu, Izzet Tandogan
1Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Sivas, Turkey. cardioceptor@gmail.com
Insights
Plasma CA-125 levels are influenced by heart function. Factors like ejection fraction, right ventricular dilatation, and pericardial effusion impact CA-125, affecting hospitalization and mortality in heart failure patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125) is a known biomarker.
- Recent studies link CA-125 to systolic heart failure.
- Factors influencing CA-125 plasma levels in this context require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors affecting plasma CA-125 levels.
- To explore the relationship between CA-125 and cardiac parameters.
- To assess the prognostic value of CA-125 in heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 430 patients with available CA-125 levels.
- Inclusion of 150 patients with echocardiographic data for final analysis.
- Follow-up for hospitalization and mortality events.
Main Results:
- CA-125 negatively correlated with ejection fraction (r=-0.269, p=0.001).
- CA-125 positively correlated with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (r=0.370, p<0.001).
- Right ventricular dilatation, depressed ejection fraction, and pericardial effusion independently predicted high CA-125 levels.
- High CA-125 associated with increased hospitalization, mortality, and atrial fibrillation.
Conclusions:
- Plasma CA-125 levels are influenced by left ventricular ejection fraction, right ventricular dilatation, and pericardial effusion.
- These cardiac factors should be considered when interpreting CA-125 levels.
- CA-125 may serve as a prognostic indicator in heart failure patients.
Objective:
CA-125 is an old marker, recently shown to be associated with systolic heart failure. We aimed to search for factors influencing its plasma level.
Design:
430 patients with one available CA-125 level were investigated retrospectively. 150 patients who had echocardiographic records were enrolled into final analysis. Patients were followed up, hospitalization and mortality were noted.
Results:
CA-125 levels were negatively correlated with ejection fraction (r=-0.269, p=0.001) and positively correlated with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (r=0.370, p<0.001). In the whole group, patients with right ventricular dilatation (n=68) had significantly higher CA-125 levels compared to those without right ventricular dilatation (n=82) (125.8±118.4 U/ml vs.16.9±16.5 U/ml, p<0.001). Presence of depressed ejection fraction (B=1.837, p=0.004), presence of right ventricular dilatation (B=4.294, p=0.002) and presence of pericardial effusion (B=1.913, p=0.018) were independent predictors of high CA-125 levels. After follow up, patients with high CA-125 level encountered more frequent hospitalization and mortality, and atrial fibrillation was more frequent among those with high CA-125.
Conclusion:
Our data suggests that plasma levels of CA-125 seem to be determined by left ventricular ejection fraction, right ventricular dilatation and presence of pericardial effusion in a group of all comers. It seems prudent to consider these factors before integrating CA-125 into clinical practice.
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