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Total plasma sulfide in congestive heart failure
Dragan Kovačić1, Nina Glavnik, Matej Marinšek
1Department of Cardiology, Celje General and Teaching Hospital, Celje, Slovenia.
Journal of Cardiac Failure
|July 4, 2012
Summary
Low levels of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in congestive heart failure patients correlate with disease severity and predict higher mortality. This study investigated total plasma sulfide in heart failure patients, finding significantly lower concentrations compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Gaseous Mediators
Background:
- Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is recognized as a third gaseous transmitter in mammals.
- H2S donors show cardioprotective effects in animal models of heart failure, mitigating adverse remodeling and dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine total plasma sulfide concentrations in patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
- To explore the relationship between plasma sulfide levels and heart failure severity.
Main Methods:
- Total plasma sulfide was quantified in 57 patients with congestive heart failure.
- Plasma sulfide levels were compared between patients and a control group.
- Correlations with clinical parameters like NYHA functional class, pro-BNP, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Patients with congestive heart failure exhibited significantly lower total plasma sulfide levels (5.32 μM) compared to controls (8.5 μM).
- Plasma sulfide concentrations decreased progressively with increasing NYHA functional class (II, III, and IV).
- Low total plasma sulfide levels were negatively correlated with pro-BNP and pulmonary artery systolic pressure, and predicted higher mortality and rehospitalization rates.
Conclusions:
- Total plasma sulfide levels are inversely associated with the severity of congestive heart failure.
- The lowest sulfide concentrations were observed in patients with NYHA Class IV, elevated pro-BNP, and high pulmonary artery pressure.
- Diminished total plasma sulfide serves as a significant predictor of increased mortality in heart failure patients.
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