sαKlotho protein is a useful biomarker and a promising cardioprotective agent in acute heart failure

Acute heart failure (AHF) is a heterogeneous and etiologically complex syndrome with a poor prognosis. sαKlotho (sαKL) is an antiaging protein with pleiotropic actions. The aim of this study was to assess the level and kinetics of sαKl during an episode of AHF and its long-term prognostic utility in a population of AHF patients.

It was a prospective multicenter study, which enrolled 133 participants. 112 consecutive patients were admitted to the intensive cardiac care unit with a diagnosis of AHF (age 68 [IQR: 60-75] years, ejection fraction 30% [IQR: 20-38], new-onset AHF 46% of the population). Twenty-one individuals formed the control group. sαKl, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were determined in serum at admission and at discharge. The main clinical outcomes assessed in the study were 3-year all-cause mortality or HF rehospitalization.

sαKl concentration significantly increased during episodes of AHF. A weak negative correlation was observed between sαKl and NT-proBNP at admission and discharge. Only patients with ischemic etiology of AHF did not have considerably elevated sαKl values at admission. Women and men had similar biomarker values. Smoking did not affect sαKl in our study. Patients who developed the combined endpoint during 3-year follow-up showed a smaller increase in sαKl values on admission compared to the control group (p = 0.169) and weaker biomarker kinetics during hospitalization as compared with the group free of adverse outcomes (p = 0.01).

sαKl level is upregulated during an acute episode of HF and may serve as a useful biomarker. A weak reduction in sαKl levels during treatment may serve as an indicator of poor long-term prognosis.