Analyzing the Release of Copeptin from the Heart in Acute Myocardial Infarction Using a Transcoronary Gradient Model

Arginine Vasopressin Plays a Role in Microvascular Dysfunction After ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) predicts mortality after ST-elevation-myocardial infarction (STEMI). Arginine vasopressin (AVP) may be implicated, but data in humans are lacking, and no study has investigated the link between arginine vasopressin and invasive measures of CMD. Methods and Results We invasively assessed CMD in 55 patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), by measuring the index of microcirculatory resistance after PPCI. In a separate group of 45 patients with STEMI/PPCI, recruited for a clinical trial, we measured infarct size and microvascular obstruction with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at 1 week and 12 weeks post-STEMI. Serum copeptin was measured at 4 time points before and after PPCI in all patients with STEMI. Plasma copeptin levels fell from 92.5 pmol/L before reperfusion to 6.4 pmol/L at 24 hours. Copeptin inversely correlated with diastolic, but not systolic, blood pressure (r=-0.431, P=0.001), suggesting it is released in response to myocardial ischemia. Persistently raised copeptin at 24 hours was correlated with higher index of microcirculatory resistance (r=0.372, P=0.011). Patients with microvascular obstruction on early CMR imaging showed a trend toward higher admission copeptin, which was not statistically significant. Copeptin levels were not associated with infarct size on either early or late CMR. Conclusions Patients with CMD after STEMI have persistently elevated copeptin at 24 hours, suggesting arginine vasopressin may contribute to microvascular dysfunction. Arginine vasopressin receptor antagonists may represent a novel therapeutic option in patients with STEMI and CMD.

Natural Peptide Toxins as an Option for Renewed Treatment of Type 2 Vasopressin Receptor-Related Diseases

The type 2 vasopressin receptor (V2R) is expressed in the kidneys, and it is the keystone of water homeostasis. Under the control of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin, the V2R ensures vital functions, and any disturbance has dramatic consequences. Despite decades of research to develop drugs capable of activating or blocking V2R function to meet real medical needs, only one agonist and one antagonist are virtually used today. These two drugs cover only a small portion of patients’ needs, leaving millions of patients without treatment. Natural peptide toxins known to act selectively and at low doses on their receptor target could offer new therapeutic options.

Serum Copeptin in Cardiooncology Practice: Review of Pathophysiological and Clinical Implications

In cardiooncology practice, "early cardiotoxicity" refers to an emerging subclinical myocardial dysfunction/injury in response to certain chemotherapeutic regimens. This condition can progress to overt cardiotoxicity in time and hence warrants proper and timely diagnostic and preventive strategies. Current diagnostic strategies for "early cardiotoxicity" are largely based on conventional biomarkers and certain echocardiographic indices. However, a significant gap still exists in this setting, warranting further strategies to improve diagnosis and overall prognosis in cancer survivors. Copeptin (surrogate marker of the arginine vasopressine axis) might serve as a promising adjunctive guide for the timely detection, risk stratification, and management of early cardiotoxicity on top of conventional strategies largely due to its multifaceted pathophysiological implications in the clinical setting. This work aims to focus on serum copeptin as a marker of "early cardiotoxicity" and its general clinical implications in patients with cancer.

Multifaceted role of cardiovascular biomarkers

Cardiovascular diseases, a global health issue, claim the lives of many every year. Lifestyle changes and genetic predisposition are the key drivers for the development of CVDs. In many of the patients, the disease is detected at the end stage making heart transplantation the only treatment option. Hence every attempt should be made to identify the risk at an early stage and initiate preventive measures to improve the quality of their life. Biomarkers are one of the critical factors that aid in the early diagnosis of CVDs. More specific and highly sensitive biomarkers have been discovered lately and have been employed for prognosis and diagnosis of CVDs. The present review briefs about the various categories of cardiovascular biomarkers with emphasis on novel biomarkers and discusses the biomarkers employed for different purposes in CVDs. The biomarkers have also helped in identifying COVID-19 patients with increased risk for developing cardiovascular complications. Being non-invasive makes biomarkers advantageous over other methods for evaluating the pathophysiological status of CVDs.

Kidney collecting duct cells make vasopressin in response to NaCl-induced hypertonicity

Vasopressin has traditionally been thought to be produced by the neurohypophyseal system and then released into the circulation where it regulates water homeostasis. The questions of whether vasopressin could be produced outside of the brain and if the kidney could be a source of vasopressin are raised by the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (vasopressin). We found that mouse and human kidneys expressed vasopressin mRNA. Using an antibody that detects preprovasopressin, we found that immunoreactive preprovasopressin protein was found in mouse and human kidneys. Moreover, we found that murine collecting duct cells made biologically active vasopressin, which increased in response to NaCl-mediated hypertonicity, and that water restriction increased the abundance of kidney-derived vasopressin mRNA and protein expression in mouse kidneys. Thus, we provide evidence of biologically active production of kidney-derived vasopressin in kidney tubular epithelial cells.

The Heart as a Target of Vasopressin and Other Cardiovascular Peptides in Health and Cardiovascular Diseases

The automatism of cardiac pacemaker cells, which is tuned, is regulated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and multiple endocrine and paracrine factors, including cardiovascular peptides. The cardiovascular peptides (CPs) form a group of essential paracrine factors affecting the function of the heart and vessels. They may also be produced in other organs and penetrate to the heart via systemic circulation. The present review draws attention to the role of vasopressin (AVP) and some other cardiovascular peptides (angiotensins, oxytocin, cytokines) in the regulation of the cardiovascular system in health and cardiovascular diseases, especially in post-infarct heart failure, hypertension and cerebrovascular strokes. Vasopressin is synthesized mostly by the neuroendocrine cells of the hypothalamus. There is also evidence that it may be produced in the heart and lungs. The secretion of AVP and other CPs is markedly influenced by changes in blood volume and pressure, as well as by other disturbances, frequently occurring in cardiovascular diseases (hypoxia, pain, stress, inflammation). Myocardial infarction, hypertension and cardiovascular shock are associated with an increased secretion of AVP and altered responsiveness of the cardiovascular system to its action. The majority of experimental studies show that the administration of vasopressin during ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest improves resuscitation, however, the clinical studies do not present consisting results. Vasopressin cooperates with the autonomic nervous system (ANS), angiotensins, oxytocin and cytokines in the regulation of the cardiovascular system and its interaction with these regulators is altered during heart failure and hypertension. It is likely that the differences in interactions of AVP with ANS and other CPs have a significant impact on the responsiveness of the cardiovascular system to vasopressin in specific cardiovascular disorders.

Emerging Biomarkers of Multiple Sclerosis in the Blood and the CSF: A Focus on Neurofilaments and Therapeutic Considerations

INTRODUCTION

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common immune-mediated chronic neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) affecting young people. This is due to the permanent disability, cognitive impairment, and the enormous detrimental impact MS can exert on a patient's health-related quality of life. It is of great importance to recognise it in time and commence adequate treatment at an early stage. The currently used disease-modifying therapies (DMT) aim to reduce disease activity and thus halt disability development, which in current clinical practice are monitored by clinical and imaging parameters but not by biomarkers found in blood and/or the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Both clinical and radiological measures routinely used to monitor disease activity lack information on the fundamental pathophysiological features and mechanisms of MS. Furthermore, they lag behind the disease process itself. By the time a clinical relapse becomes evident or a new lesion appears on the MRI scan, potentially irreversible damage has already occurred in the CNS. In recent years, several biomarkers that previously have been linked to other neurological and immunological diseases have received increased attention in MS. Additionally, other novel, potential biomarkers with prognostic and diagnostic properties have been detected in the CSF and blood of MS patients.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we summarise the most up-to-date knowledge and research conducted on the already known and most promising new biomarker candidates found in the CSF and blood of MS patients.

DISCUSSION

the current diagnostic criteria of MS relies on three pillars: MRI imaging, clinical events, and the presence of oligoclonal bands in the CSF (which was reinstated into the diagnostic criteria by the most recent revision). Even though the most recent McDonald criteria made the diagnosis of MS faster than the prior iteration, it is still not an infallible diagnostic toolset, especially at the very early stage of the clinically isolated syndrome. Together with the gold standard MRI and clinical measures, ancillary blood and CSF biomarkers may not just improve diagnostic accuracy and speed but very well may become agents to monitor therapeutic efficacy and make even more personalised treatment in MS a reality in the near future. The major disadvantage of these biomarkers in the past has been the need to obtain CSF to measure them. However, the recent advances in extremely sensitive immunoassays made their measurement possible from peripheral blood even when present only in minuscule concentrations. This should mark the beginning of a new biomarker research and utilisation era in MS.

Adding stress biomarkers to high-sensitivity cardiac troponin for rapid non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction rule-out protocols

AIMS

This study tested the hypothesis that combining stress-induced biomarkers (copeptin or glucose) with high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) increases diagnostic accuracy for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in patients presenting to the emergency department.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The ability to rule-out NSTEMI for combinations of baseline hs-cTnT or hs-cTnI with copeptin or glucose was compared with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) hs-cTnT/I-only rule-out algorithms in two independent (one Norwegian and one international multicentre) diagnostic studies. Among 959 patients (median age 64 years, 60.5% male) with suspected NSTEMI in the Norwegian cohort, 13% had NSTEMI. Adding copeptin or glucose to hs-cTnT/I as a continuous variable did not improve discrimination as quantified by the area under the curve {e.g. hs-cTnT/copeptin 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89-0.93] vs. hs-cTnT alone 0.91 (95% CI 0.89-0.93); hs-cTnI/copeptin 0.85 (95% CI 0.82-0.87) vs. hs-cTnI alone 0.93 (95% CI 0.91-0.95)}, nor did adding copeptin <9 mmol/L or glucose <5.6 mmol/L increase the sensitivity of the rule-out provided by hs-cTnT <5 ng/L or hs-cTnI <4 ng/L in patients presenting more than 3 h after chest pain onset (target population in the ESC-0 h-algorithm). The combination decreased rule-out efficacy significantly (both P < 0.01). These findings were confirmed among 1272 patients (median age 62 years, 69.3% male) with suspected NSTEMI in the international validation cohort, of which 20.7% had NSTEMI. A trend towards increased sensitivity for the hs-cTnT/I/copeptin combinations (97-100% vs. 91-97% for the ESC-0 h-rule-out cut-offs) was observed in the Norwegian cohort.

CONCLUSION

Adding copeptin or glucose to hs-cTnT/I did not increase diagnostic performance when compared with current ESC guideline hs-cTnT/I-only 0 h-algorithms.

Copeptin Levels Are Independent from Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia but Do Not Predict Infarct Size in Patients Presenting with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background: Mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) is a treatment adjunct in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) that deserves investigation. Copeptin―a surrogate marker for vasopressin―is an early biomarker in STEMI. Data from cardiac arrest patients suggest a reduction of copeptin levels through MTH; however, copeptin levels have not been investigated in MTH during STEMI. Methods: We analyzed patients treated with MTH during STEMI in a sub-study of the STATIM trial (Testori, Heart 2019). Patients were randomized to normothermia or MTH with out-of-hospital initiation. Seven copeptin samples were collected from each patient. Primary endpoint was the difference in copeptin levels between the groups. As secondary endpoints, we defined differences in the kinetics between the sampling timepoints and the correlation between copeptin and the infarct size in relation to left ventricular myocardium. Results: We included 99 patients (MTH n = 47, control n = 52) in our intention to treat analysis. No differences in copeptin values at first medical contact between the MTH and normothermia groups were found. MTH showed no effect on copeptin levels, neither during cooling phase nor through the course. Copeptin peaked at first medical contact and hospital admission in both groups. No differences in kinetics between the timepoints were found. Copeptin showed no correlation with infarct size, neither at first medical contact nor hospital admission. Conclusions: Copeptin levels were not influenced by MTH in STEMI, suggesting the use of this biomarker also during temperature management. Furthermore, copeptin levels were not usable as a surrogate marker for infarct size at any timepoint.

Current Knowledge and Future Challenges in Takotsubo Syndrome: Part 1-Pathophysiology and Diagnosis

First recognized in 1990, takotsubo syndrome (TTS) constitutes an acute cardiac condition that mimics acute myocardial infarction commonly in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease; it is characterized by temporary left ventricular dysfunction, regularly in a circumferential apical, midventricular, or basal distribution. Considering its acute clinical presentation, coronary angiography with left ventriculography constitutes the gold standard diagnostic tool to exclude or confirm TTS. Frequently, TTS is related to severe emotional or physical stress and a subsequent increased adrenergic stimulation affecting cardiac function. Beyond clinical presentation, epidemiology, and novel diagnostic biomarkers, this review draws attention to potential pathophysiological mechanisms for the observed reversible myocardial dysfunction such as sympathetic overdrive-mediated multi-vessel epicardial spasms, microvascular dysfunction, the direct toxicity of catecholamines, lipotoxicity, and inflammation. Considering the long-term prognosis, further experimental and clinical research is indispensable to elucidate further pathophysiological mechanisms underlying TTS before randomized control trials with evidence-based therapeutic management can be performed.

Association of Copeptin With Sense of Coherence in Individuals With Varying Degrees of Glucose Intolerance

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the association of serum copeptin levels, a surrogate marker of arginine-vasopressin secretion with sense of coherence (SOC) among individuals with varying degrees of glucose intolerance.

METHODS

The study was conducted in 120 age- and sex-matched individuals who were divided equally into three groups. Group A included individuals with normal glucose tolerance; group B, individuals with prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance and/or impaired fasting glucose); and group C, individuals with newly detected diabetes mellitus (NDDM). SOC, perceived stress scale (PSS), copeptin, anthropometry, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, and salivary cortisol were measured in all study participants.

RESULTS

The SOC score was found to be significantly lower in group C compared with group A (p < .001) and group B (p = .006). The PSS score was found to be significantly higher in group C compared with group A (p = .002). No significant difference was found between PSS scores of groups B and C (p = .25). Copeptin levels were found to be significantly higher in group C compared with group A (p = .016). Copeptin levels in group C did not differ significantly from those in group B (p = .056). There was a significant negative correlation between serum copeptin levels and SOC in the NDDM group C (r = 0.31, p = .048) and overall (r = 0.19, p = .037). In multiple regression analysis, SOC emerged as the variable with the strongest association with 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with NDDM displayed significantly higher serum copeptin levels that inversely correlated with SOC, a global measure of stress coping ability.

Early myocardial injury biomarkers in diabetic hyperlipidemic rats: Impact of 10-dehydrogingerdione and vitamin D3

IMPACT STATEMENT

Hyperlipidemia represents a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases leading to myocardial injury (MI). The present study aimed to illustrate the pattern of myocardial injury induced in diabetic hyperlipidemic rat model and the effect of vitamin D3, 10-dehydrogingerdione (10-DHGD) intake either individually or in combination form.

Potential impacts of high-sensitivity creatine kinase-MB on long-term clinical outcomes in patients with stable coronary heart disease

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of high-sensitivity creatine kinase-myocardial band or fraction (hsCK-MB) in comparison with other well-established biomarkers including heart type-fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with stable coronary heart disease (SCHD). A total of 1,785 patients were enrolled and followed for 36 months. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. The secondary outcomes included cardiovascular (CV) death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), angina-related hospitalizations, and hospitalizations for heart failure. The all-cause mortality rate was significantly higher in the high hsCK-MB group compared to the low hsCK-MB group (4.64% vs. 1.88%, p = 0.0026). After adjusting for baseline covariates, there were no significant differences for the secondary outcomes. H-FABP (≥4.226 ng/mL) was the best predictor for all-cause mortality (HR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.28-5.62, p = 0.009) and CV death (HR = 6.84, 95% CI = 1.89-22.14, p = 0.003). The high NT-proBNP group had a higher AMI-related hospitalization rate (HR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.00-3.65, p = 0.05). Neither the addition of hsCK-MB to any other markers nor combinations of the three markers improved the prognostic significance of CV outcomes. In conclusion, hsCK-MB was an independent predictor for all-cause mortality but not CV outcomes in patients with SCHD. Combination of hsCK-MB, H-FABP and NT-proBNP failed to improve the prognostic power for all-cause mortality or CV outcomes.

Coping facilitated troponin T increases and hypo-responsivity in the copeptin-HPA-axis during acute mental stress in a black cohort: The SABPA study

BACKGROUND

Defensive coping (DefS) was associated with a vulnerable cardiovascular profile in blacks. The copeptin/vasopressin system is a manifestation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis activity and may act as an acute compensatory mechanism when there is a disruption in volume-loading homeostasis, i.e. when cardiac stress is evident. Whether DefS will influence associations between copeptin and cardiac stress markers, remains unclear. Here we aimed to determine associations between acute mental stress responses of copeptin, vascular responsiveness and biomarkers of cardiomyocyte injury [cardiac troponin T (cTnT)] and cardiac wall-stress [N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)] in DefS race groups.

METHODS

South African black and white teachers (n = 378) of both sexes, participated in this target population study. Cases with a history of myocardial infarction, stroke and atrial fibrillation were excluded. We obtained coping scores (Coping Strategy Indicator), beat-to-beat blood pressure and fasting blood samples at rest and after 1-min exposure to the Stroop-Colour-Word-Conflict-test.

RESULTS

Interaction effects (p < .05) for copeptin percentage change (%) during the Stroop-Colour-Word-Conflict-test determined stratification of participants into race and DefS (≥26, above-median score) groups. In DefS blacks, Stroop-Colour-Word-Conflict-test exposure elicited increases in cTnT%, NT-proBNP% and diastolic-blood pressure%. Again, in these individuals, multiple regression analyses showed positive associations between copeptin% and total peripheral resistance%; with inverse associations between copeptin% and cTnT% (p < .05). None of these associations were found in DefS whites.

CONCLUSIONS

Utilisation of DefS in blacks provoked vascular hyper-responsiveness and cardiac wall stress (elevated cTnT and NT-proBNP); possibly mediated via the copeptin/vasopressin system. However, a presumably hypo-responsive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis during stress exposure could not counteract coronary perfusion deficits via additional copeptin/vasopressin release. The presence of defensiveness may have clinical implications in preventive cardiology.

A multicentre, randomized, controlled open-label trial to compare an Accelerated Rule-Out protocol using combined prehospital copeptin and in-hospital high sensitive troponin with standard rule-out in patients suspected of acute Myocardial Infarction - the AROMI trial

BACKGROUND

Suspicion of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is among the most common reasons for admission to hospital in Denmark. Owing to this suspicion, an estimated 50,000 patients are admitted every year. Only 15-20% are finally diagnosed with AMI, whereas 40% are discharged after rule-out of AMI and without initiation of any treatment or need for further admission. In patients discharged after rule-out, the current diagnostic protocol, using consecutive troponin measurements, results in an average length of stay (LOS) of 8-12 h. This leads to overcrowding in both the emergency departments and coronary care units. Measuring copeptin and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) upon hospital arrival has shown potential for early rule-out of AMI. However, the diagnostic performance may be improved by accelerating the copeptin measurement of blood sampled already in the pre-hospital phase. Additional evidence on LOS reduction and safety of the rule-out strategy in a large cohort of all-comers is needed.

METHODS/DESIGN

The rule-out potential is being evaluated in a randomized controlled trial including 4800 patients admitted to hospital for suspicion of AMI. Patients are randomized to either standard rule-out (consecutive troponin measurements) or accelerated rule-out (copeptin measured in a blood sample acquired before hospital admission, combined with troponin measured in the first blood sample upon admission).

DISCUSSION

Sampling blood for copeptin analysis already in the pre-hospital phase and combining this with a later hs-cTn measurement may be the optimal timing for achieving the best diagnostic performance in an AMI rule-out protocol/strategy. Moreover, we are directly comparing pre-hospital and in-hospital blood sample results to address this issue of timing, and we also are comparing single-marker strategies with dual-marker strategies. If the combination of copeptin and hs-cTn is confirmed to rule out AMI safely, implementation of this fast rule-out protocol could optimize patient flow, reduce health care expenses and enable allocation of resources to patients with confirmed illness. In future, when point-of-care analyses of copeptin and hs-cTn are available, hospitalization of the large proportion of patients with symptoms raising suspicion of AMI could potentially be avoided.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02666326 . Registered on January 24, 2016.

The prognostic significance of heart-type fatty acid binding protein in patients with stable coronary heart disease

To investigate the prognostic value of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) in patients with stable coronary heart disease (SCHD). A total of 1,071 patients with SCHD were prospectively enrolled in this Taiwan multicenter registry study, followed for 24 months. The cut-off value of H-FABP, 4.143 ng/mL, was determined using receiver operating characteristic curves. The primary cardiovascular (CV) outcome was composite CV events, defined as cardiovascular or cerebrovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, angina related-hospitalization, PAOD-related hospitalization and heart failure. Secondary outcomes included CV or cerebrovascular death, nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke, and acute heart failure-related hospitalization. We found that the high H-FABP group had more than a two-fold higher rate of primary CV outcomes than the low H-FABP group (32.36% vs. 15.78%, p < 0.001). Eleven patients (4.82%) of the high H-FABP group died during the 24 months of follow-up, compared to only one patient (0.12%) in the low H-FABP group. The acute heart failure-related hospitalization rate was also significantly higher in the high H-FABP group (3.5% vs. 0.95%, p < 0.005). The results remained significant after adjusting for baseline covariates. In conclusion, H-FABP was an independent predictor for CV outcomes in the patients with SCHD, mainly in CV death and acute heart failure-related hospitalization.

Copeptin level in the early prediction of cardiorenal syndrome in rats

Copeptin (CPP) has been considered as a useful marker for prediction of prognosis in heart diseases. However, CPP has not been investigated sufficiently in cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). The present study aimed to investigate the value of CPP level in predicting CRS in rats with partial nephrectomy combined with myocardial infarction (SNX + MI). A total of 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish the CRS model by partial nephrectomy combined with MI. The rats were randomly divided into blank control (CK), SNX, MI and CRS groups. Changes in serum and urine CPP concentrations, hemodynamics, blood pressure, and renal function were examined 1-5 weeks after modeling. The predictive values of CPP in the occurrence of CRS in rats were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The results showed that serum CPP in the CRS group in 1-5 weeks and urine CPP in 3 weeks after modeling increased significantly compared with the CK group. Also, serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in 1 and 3 weeks and urine BNP in 4-5 weeks after modeling increased significantly. No correlation was found between serum or urine CPP, BNP and BUN levels 1 week after modeling in the CRS group. The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of CRS predicted by serum CPP at 1 week was 0.908 with 56.59 pg/ml as the cutoff point, and its diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 87.5 and 80.0%, respectively. To conclude, SNX + MI may be used to establish CRS rat model with cardiac and renal damage. Serum CPP may serve as a specific biomarker for the early prediction of CRS.

Biomarkers in Cardiorenal Syndromes

There is a consensus that cardiorenal syndromes (CRS) are defined as the disorders of heart and kidney where acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction in another. Patients with CRS have increased hospitalization and mortality rates, and thus their identification is of great implication. Biomarkers are not only predictive in heart failure or renal diseases, but also useful in identifying cardiac dysfunction in renal diseases and renal injury in heart failure. Thus, they may be applied in order to identify patients with CRS and even assess prognosis and guide therapy in these patients. However, studies on biomarkers have just begun in CRS. Future studies are essential to observe current biomarkers and find novel biomarkers in CRS so as to improve diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of CRS.

The copeptin response after physical activity is not associated with cardiac biomarkers or asymptomatic coronary artery disease: The North Sea Race Endurance Exercise Study (NEEDED) 2013

BACKGROUND

Copeptin concentrations increase both during acute coronary syndrome and following physical exercise. The relationship between copeptin increase following physical exercise and coronary artery disease (CAD) is uncertain. The aim of this study was to 1) describe the copeptin response following strenuous physical exercise, and 2) investigate the determinants of exercise induced copeptin concentrations, particularly in relation to cardiac biomarkers and CAD.

METHODS

Serum samples were collected from 97 recreational cyclists 24h before, and immediately, 3 and 24h after a 91-km bike race. Three subjects were subsequently diagnosed with significant asymptomatic CAD. Delta copeptin concentrations were correlated to patient characteristics and to biomarker concentrations.

RESULTS

Participants were 42.8±9.6years, and 76.3% were male. Copeptin concentrations increased to maximal levels immediately after the race and were normalized in >90% after 3h. A total of 53% and 39% exceeded the 95th and 99th percentile of the assay (10 and 19pmol/L) respectively. In multivariate models, race time, serum sodium, creatinine and cortisol were significant predictors of copeptin levels. There was no correlation between changes in copeptin and changes in cardiac biomarkers (hs-cTnI, hs-cTnT and BNP). Copeptin concentrations were normal in the subjects with asymptomatic CAD.

CONCLUSIONS

The moderate, short-term, exercise induced copeptin increase observed in the present study was not related to hs-cTn or BNP levels. Copeptin was normal in three asymptomatic recreational athletes with significant CAD.

Use of copeptin for rapid rule-out of acute myocardial infarction

Copeptin is currently understood as a quantitative marker of endogenous stress. It rises rapidly in multiple acute disorders including acute myocardial infarction. As a single variable, it has only modest diagnostic accuracy for acute myocardial infarction. However, the use of copeptin within a dual-marker strategy together with conventional cardiac troponin increases the diagnostic accuracy and particularly the negative predictive value of cardiac troponin alone for acute myocardial infarction. The rapid rule-out of acute myocardial infarction is the only application in acute cardiac care mature enough to merit consideration for routine clinical care. However, the dual-marker approach seems to provide only very small incremental value when used in combination with sensitive or high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays. This review aims to update and educate regarding the potential and the procedural details, as well as the caveats and challenges of using copeptin in clinical practice.

Diagnostic performance of peroxiredoxin 1 to determine time-of-onset of acute cerebral infarction

Accurately determining time-of-onset of cerebral infarction is important to clearly identify patients who could benefit from reperfusion therapies. We assessed the kinetics of peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1), a protein involved in oxidative stress during the acute phase of ischemia, and its ability to determine stroke onset in a population of patients with known onset of less than 24 hours and in a control group. Median PRDX1 levels were significantly higher in stroke patients compared to controls. PRDX1 levels were also higher from blood samples withdrawn before vs. after 3 hours following stroke onset, and before vs. after 6 hours. ROC analysis with area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) determined from the Youden index was performed to assess the ability of PRDX1 levels to determine onset. Diagnostic performances of PRDX1 levels were defined by an AUC of 69%, Se of 53% and Sp of 86% for identifying cerebral infarction occurring <3 hours, and an AUC of 68%, Se of 49% and Sp of 88% for cerebral infarction occurring <6 hours. These first results suggest that PRDX1 levels could be the basis of a new method using biomarkers for determining cerebral infarction onset.