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Identification of Circulating Diagnostic Biomarkers for Coronary Microvascular Disease in Postmenopausal Women Using
Alicia Arredondo Eve1, Elif Tunc1,2, Yu-Jeh Liu1
1Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Insights
Coronary microvascular disease (CMD) in postmenopausal women can be diagnosed using novel plasma biomarkers. Researchers identified stearic acid and ornithine as potential indicators, offering hope for improved diagnostic tests.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Metabolomics
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Coronary microvascular disease (CMD) affects postmenopausal women, characterized by heart microvessel dysfunction rather than plaque.
- Many patients remain undiagnosed or are discharged prematurely, leading to recurrent symptoms.
- Current diagnostic limitations highlight the need for novel biomarkers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel circulating plasma biomarkers for diagnosing CMD in postmenopausal women.
- To investigate differences in plasma metabolite profiles among healthy women, those with CMD, and those with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Main Methods:
- Recruited 70 postmenopausal women (26 healthy, 23 CMD, 21 CAD).
- Conducted comprehensive health screenings, cardiac examinations, and laboratory analyses.
- Utilized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for plasma metabolite profiling and machine learning for biomarker identification.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated levels of stearic acid and ornithine were observed in postmenopausal women with CMD.
- Conversely, valine levels were higher in women diagnosed with CAD.
- Machine learning approaches successfully identified these distinct metabolite patterns.
Conclusions:
- Stearic acid and ornithine show potential as circulating biomarkers for CMD in postmenopausal women.
- These findings could significantly impact the development of future diagnostic tests for CMD.
- Distinguishing CMD from CAD through metabolic profiling is feasible.
Abstract:
Coronary microvascular disease (CMD) is a common form of heart disease in postmenopausal women. It is not due to plaque formation but dysfunction of microvessels that feed the heart muscle. The majority of the patients do not receive a proper diagnosis, are discharged prematurely and must go back to the hospital with persistent symptoms. Because of the lack of diagnostic biomarkers, in the current study, we focused on identifying novel circulating biomarkers of CMV that could potentially be used for developing a diagnostic test. We hypothesized that plasma metabolite composition is different for postmenopausal women with no heart disease, CAD, or CMD. A total of 70 postmenopausal women, 26 healthy individuals, 23 individuals with CMD and 21 individuals with CAD were recruited. Their full health screening and tests were completed. Basic cardiac examination, including detailed clinical history, additional disease and prescribed drugs, were noted. Electrocardiograph, transthoracic echocardiography and laboratory analysis were also obtained. Additionally, we performed full metabolite profiling of plasma samples from these individuals using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, identified and classified circulating biomarkers using machine learning approaches. Stearic acid and ornithine levels were significantly higher in postmenopausal women with CMD. In contrast, valine levels were higher for women with CAD. Our research identified potential circulating plasma biomarkers of this debilitating heart disease in postmenopausal women, which will have a clinical impact on diagnostic test design in the future.
