Trefoil Factor 3 as a Biomarker for Peripheral Artery Disease

Area of Science:

• Biomarkers in cardiovascular research
• Vascular disease diagnostics
• Predictive modeling in medicine

Background:

• Trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) is linked to cardiovascular disease, but its role in peripheral artery disease (PAD) is understudied.
• This study investigated TFF3 as a potential biomarker for PAD and its associated risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the association of circulating TFF3 with PAD presence.
• To develop predictive models for PAD diagnosis and major adverse limb events (MALE) risk using TFF3 and clinical data.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 476 individuals (312 PAD patients, 164 controls).
• Quantified plasma TFF3, OSM, and BDNF; monitored MALE over two years.
• Developed predictive models using a random forest algorithm with TFF3 and clinical variables, validated by AUROC.

Main Results:

• TFF3 concentrations were significantly higher in PAD patients compared to controls (p < 0.001).
• Predictive models showed strong performance for PAD detection (AUROC 0.79) and 2-year MALE risk estimation (AUROC 0.85).
• TFF3 emerged as the most influential predictor for MALE, surpassing age and smoking history.

Conclusions:

• Plasma TFF3 combined with clinical characteristics effectively predicts PAD diagnosis and 2-year MALE risk.
• This model can improve risk stratification, enabling earlier intervention and targeted treatment for PAD patients.