Ionomic profiling of pericardial fluid in ischemic heart disease

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Biochemistry
• Trace Element Analysis

Background:

• Metals are vital cofactors for cellular and tissue-level heart function.
• The role of metals within pericardial fluid and their ionome in ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between elements in pericardial fluid and serum from IHD patients.
• To correlate elemental concentrations with systolic and diastolic function in IHD.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of sixteen elements in pericardial fluid and serum from 46 IHD patients undergoing open-heart surgery.
• Quantification using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).
• Echocardiographic parameters were used to categorize systolic (ejection fraction) and diastolic dysfunction.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher concentrations of chromium and nickel were observed in pericardial fluid compared to serum in IHD patients (p < 0.05).
• Lower levels of chromium, nickel, and manganese in pericardial fluid were associated with reduced ejection fraction (EF < 45%) compared to EF > 45% (p < 0.05).
• No significant differences in pericardial element concentrations were found between diastolic dysfunction grades 0-1 and 2.

Conclusions:

• Decreased concentrations of specific metals (chromium, nickel, manganese) in pericardial fluid are linked to impaired systolic function in IHD.
• Pericardial fluid metal concentrations may serve as indicators of IHD severity.
• These findings generate hypotheses regarding the role of these metals in IHD pathogenesis.