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Potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of acute aortic dissection

Wen Peng1, Zhenyu Peng1, Xiangping Chai1

  • 1Department of Emergency, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.

Heart & Lung : the Journal of Critical Care
|February 18, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified novel biomarkers for early diagnosis of acute aortic dissection (AAD). Combining markers like smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (smMHC) and D-dimer significantly improves diagnostic accuracy for AAD.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Biomarker Discovery
  • Diagnostic Accuracy

Background:

  • Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening condition requiring rapid diagnosis.
  • Early identification of AAD is crucial for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes.
  • Current diagnostic methods can be invasive or delayed, highlighting the need for reliable biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and validate novel biological markers for the early diagnosis of acute aortic dissection (AAD).
  • To assess the diagnostic performance of individual and combined biomarkers in patients presenting with acute chest pain.

Main Methods:

  • Seventy-six patients with acute chest pain within 6 hours of onset were enrolled.
  • Acute aortic dissection (AAD) was confirmed using computed tomography angiography (CTA).
  • Serum levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), smMHC, sELAF, PC1, and D-dimer were measured using ELISA, with ROC curve and correlation analyses performed.

Main Results:

  • Serum levels of α-SMA, smMHC, sELAF, PC1, and D-dimer were significantly elevated in AAD patients compared to controls (P < 0.05).
  • Significant correlations were observed between smMHC, sELAF, PC1, and D-dimer levels in AAD patients.
  • A combination of any two markers demonstrated high diagnostic sensitivity (94.29%) and specificity (85.37%).

Conclusions:

  • Individual biomarkers such as smMHC, sELAF, PC1, and D-dimer show potential for early AAD diagnosis.
  • Combining these identified biomarkers significantly enhances the diagnostic value for acute aortic dissection.
  • These findings suggest a promising panel for improving the early detection of AAD.
Abstract

Keywords:
Acute aortic dissectionBiomarkersD-dimerPolycystin 1Smooth muscle myosin heavy chainSoluble elastin fragmentsα-Smooth muscle actin

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