Dipeptidyl peptidase IV and mortality after an acute heart failure episode

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) is a key enzyme in B-type natriuretic peptide processing. DPP IV was never studied in human heart failure (HF). We aimed to measure DPP IV concentration in acute HF and determine its association with mortality.

Patients hospitalized with acute HF were eligible. We excluded patients with acute coronary syndromes. A discharge blood sample was collected from all patients and they were followed for a 6-month period. Outcome was HF death. Patients were compared across DPP IV quartiles. A Cox regression analysis was used to assess the prognostic power of DPP IV. We studied 164 patients. Median age was 78 years, 48.8% were men, and 63 had type 2 diabetes and 59.1% had left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Quartiles of DPP IV were <215.2; ≥ 215.2 and <269.3; ≥ 269.3 and <348.6; and ≥ 348.6 ng/mL; groups were homogenous between them. Seventeen patients died. Patients with DPP IV in the last quartile had a hazard ratio of HF death up to 6 months of 2.89, 95% confidence interval, 1.11-7.46. Association was B-type natriuretic peptide independent.

Discharge DPP IV ≥ 348.6 ng/mL conferred an approximately 3-fold higher risk of 6-month HF death. Further studies would be important to understand the role of DPP IV in HF.