Midregional-proAdrenomedullin as a prognostic tool in sepsis and septic shock: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Midregional-proAdrenomedullin (MR-proADM) has been recently proposed as a tool in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic role of MR-proADM in hospitalized patients with sepsis and septic shock.

METHODS

PRISMA guideline was followed. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched up to June 2023. Primary outcome was mean difference in MR-proADM among survivors and nonsurvivors, secondary outcome mean difference in MR-proADM according to infection severity and type. Risk of bias was evaluated using Newcastle-Ottawa scale for observational studies and Cochrane tool for randomized trials. Pooled mean differences (MD) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Twenty-four studies included 6730 adult patients (1208 nonsurvivors and 5522 survivors) and three studies included 195 paediatric patients (30 nonsurvivors and 165 survivors). A total of 10, 4 and 13 studies included, respectively, patients with sepsis (3602 patients), septic shock (386 patients) and a mixed population (2937 patients). Twenty-one studies included patients with different source of infection, three with pneumonia and one with a catheter-related infection. Most studies (n = 12) had a follow-up of 28 days. In adult cohort, pooled mean difference between nonsurvivors and survivors of MR-proADM was 2.55 mmol/L (95% CI: 1.95-3.15) with higher values in patients with septic shock (4.25 mmol/L; 95% CI, 2.23-6.26 mmol/L) than in patients with sepsis (1.77 mmol/L; 95% CI: 1.11-2.44 mmol/L). In paediatric cohort, pooled mean difference was 3.11 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.02-6.24 mmol/L).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher values of MR-proADM are detectable in nonsurvivors adult and paediatric-hospitalized patients with sepsis or septic shock.

Mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM), C-reactive protein (CRP) and other biomarkers in the early identification of disease progression in patients with COVID-19 in the acute NHS setting

AIMS

There is a lack of biomarkers validated for assessing clinical deterioration in patients with COVID-19 on presentation to secondary or tertiary care. This evaluation looked at the potential clinical application of C reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and white cell count to support prediction of clinical outcomes.

METHODS

135 patients presenting to Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust between April and June 2020 confirmed to have COVID-19 via reverse-transcription-qPCR were included. Biomarkers from within 24 hours of presentation were used to predict disease progression by Cox regression and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves. The endpoints assessed were 30-day all-cause mortality, intubation and ventilation, critical care admission and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) use.

RESULTS

Elevated MR-proADM was shown to have the greatest ability to predict 30-day mortality adjusting for age, cardiovascular disease, renal disease and neurological disease. A significant association was also noted between raised MR-proADM and CRP concentrations and the requirement for critical care admission and NIV.

CONCLUSIONS

The measurement of MR-proADM and CRP in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection on admission shows significant potential to support clinicians in identifying those at increased risk of disease progression and need for higher level care, subsequently enabling prompt escalation in clinical interventions.

The role of serial cardiac biomarkers in prognostication and risk prediction of chronic heart failure: additional scientific insights with hemodynamic feedback

INTRODUCTION

Heart failure (HF) is considered as a chronic long-term and lethal disease and will continue to be a major public health problem. Studying (circulating) biomarkers is a promising field of research and could be the first step toward HF tailored prognostic strategies as well as understanding the response to HF drugs in CHF patients.

AREAS COVERED

In literature, there has been considerable research on elevated biomarker levels that are related to a poor prognosis for HF. Since biomarker levels change over time, it is important to study serial (repeated) biomarker measurements which may help us better understand the dynamic course of HF illness. However, the majority of research focuses predominantly on baseline values of biomarkers. Additionally, remote monitoring devices, like sensors, can be used to link hemodynamic information to freshen biomarker data in order to further ameliorate the management of HF.

EXPERT OPINION

Novel biomarkers and additional scientific insights with hemodynamic feedback strongly aid in the prognostication and risk prediction of chronic HF.

Relation between Mid-Regional Pro-Adrenomedullin in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure and the Dose of Diuretics in 2-Year Follow-Up-Data from FAR NHL Registry

Background and Objectives: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact of humoral substance mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) on the two-year survival of patients with chronic heart failure and relate it to the dosage of furosemide. Materials and Methods: The data is taken from the stable systolic heart failure (EF < 50%) FAR NHL registry (FARmacology and NeuroHumoraL activation). The primary endpoint at two-year follow-up was death, heart transplantation, or LVAD implantation. Results: A total of 1088 patients were enrolled in the FAR NHL registry; MR-proADM levels were available for 569 of them. The mean age was 65 years, and 81% were male. The aetiology of HF was ischemic heart disease in 53% and dilated cardiomyopathy in 41% of patients. The mean EF was 31 ± 9%. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) were obtained in several parameters: patients with higher MR-proADM levels were older, rated higher in NYHA class, suffered more often from lower limb oedema, and had more comorbidities such as hypertension, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and renal impairment. MR-proADM level was related to furosemide dose. Patients taking higher doses of diuretics had higher MR-proADM levels. The mean MR-proADM level without furosemide (n = 122) was 0.62 (±0.55) nmol/L, with low dose (n = 113) 1−39 mg/day was 0.67 (±0.30) nmol/L, with mid dose (n = 202) 40−79 mg/day was 0.72 (±0.34) nmol/L, with high dose (n = 58) 80−119 mg/day was 0.85 (±0.40) nmol/L, and with maximum dose (n = 74) ≥120 mg/day was 1.07 (±0.76) nmol/L, p < 0.001. Patients with higher MR-proADM levels were more likely to achieve the primary endpoint at a two-year follow-up (p < 0.001) according to multivariant analysis. Conclusions: Elevated plasma MR-proADM levels in patients with chronic heart failure are associated with an increased risk of death and hospitalization. Higher MR-proADM levels in combination with increased use of loop diuretics reflect residual congestion and are associated with a higher risk of severe disease progression.

Multidimensional Approach of Heart Failure Diagnosis and Prognostication Utilizing Cardiac Imaging with Biomarkers

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome caused by various etiologies that results in systolic and diastolic cardiac dysfunction with congestion. While evaluating HF and planning for treatment, physicians utilize various laboratory tests, including electrocardiography, diverse imaging tests, exercise testing, invasive hemodynamic evaluation, or endomyocardial biopsy. Among these, cardiac imaging modalities and biomarkers are the mainstays during HF diagnosis and treatment. Recent developments in non-invasive imaging modalities, such as echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear imaging, have helped us understand the etiology, pathophysiology, and hemodynamics of HF, and determine treatment options and predict the outcomes. Due to the convenience of their use and potential impact on HF management, biomarkers are increasingly adopted in our clinical practice as well as research purpose. Natriuretic peptide is the most widely used biomarker for the diagnosis of HF, evaluation of treatment response, and prediction of future outcomes. Other cardiac biomarkers to evaluate the pathophysiological mechanisms of HF include myocardial injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, hypertrophy, and neurohormonal activation. Because HF results from complex cardiac disorders, it is essential to assess the disease status multidimensionally. The proper utilization of multimodality imaging and cardiac biomarkers can improve the quality of patient management and predict clinical outcomes in HF in the era of personalized medicine.

Proadrenomedullin in Patients with Preserved Left Ventricular Systolic Function Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Introduction

A potentially new marker of cardiovascular diseases — proadrenomedullin is the precursor of adrenomedullin, which is a multifunctional peptide hormone, produced in most of the tissues in response to cellular stress, ischemia, and hypoxia.

Methods

Ninety-three people, aged 51-79 years, were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were severe or corrected valvular disease, acute coronary syndrome, age ≥ 80 years, glomerular filtration rate < 45 ml/min, active infectious diseases, and cancer. The subjects were observed for adverse events, including reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by ≥ 10%, first incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF), and the necessity of using dopamine during hospitalization.

Results

Use of pressure amines, occurrence of the first AF episode, and left ventricular dysfunction defined by a decrease in LVEF by at least 10% compared to the value before surgery were reported in the perioperative period. No death, sudden cardiac arrest with effective resuscitation, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or heart failure were observed. Significantly higher proadrenomedullin concentration was observed in the group with reduced postoperative LVEF (1.68 vs. 0.77 nmol/l, P=0.005). The relative risk of a decrease in ejection fraction in the group of patients with proadrenomedullin concentration ≥ 0.77 nmol/l was more than twelve-fold higher (95% confidence interval 1.69-888.33; P=0.013) than in the group of patients with a concentration of proadrenomedullin < 0.77 nmol/l.

Conclusion

The higher baseline concentration of proadrenomedullin has a predominantly predictive value of postoperative left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Endocrine and Mechanical Cardiacfunction Four Months after Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrialfibrillation

Background

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)is an important treatment option for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). During RFA, a significant amount of energy is delivered into the left atrium (LA), resulting in considerable LA-injury. The impact of this damage on mechanical and endocrine LA-function, however, is often disregarded.We therefore aimed to evaluate the endocrine- and mechanical function of the heart 4-months after RFA of AF.

Methods

In total 189 patients eligible for RFA of AF were studied. The levels of the N-terminal pro-B-natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and the mid-regional fragment of the N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP)were measured. The maximum LAvolume (LAVmax),the LAejection fraction (LAEF) and the LA peak longitudinal strain (PALS), were measured usingtransthoracic echocardiography. The measurements were performed before and 4-months after the intervention.

Results

87 patients had a recurrence during a mean follow-up of 143±36 days.NT-proBNPand MR-proANPdecreased significantly at follow-up. This reduction was greater in patients who did not suffer any recurrence after RFA.The LAVmax decreased significantly, whereasthe PALS only improved in patients who did not suffer from any recurrence. On the other hand, LAEF did not change significantly after RFA of AF.

Conclusions

Despite extensiveablation during RFA of AF, the endocrine function of the heart improved 4-months after the index procedure. Patients with no arrhythmia recurrence showed a more pronounced improvement in their endocrinal function. Mechanically, the LAVmax was reduced, and the LA strain improved significantly.

Biomarkers in the clinical management of patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are two cardiovascular diseases with an increasing prevalence worldwide. These conditions share common pathophysiologiesand frequently co-exit. In fact, the occurrence of either condition can 'cause' the development of the other, creating a new patient group that demands different management strategies to that if they occur in isolation. Regardless of the temproral association of the two conditions, their presence is linked with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, increased rate of hospitalizations, and increased economic burden on healthcare systems. The use of low-cost, easily accessible and applicable biomarkers may hasten the correct diagnosis and the effective treatment of AF and HF. Both AF and HF effect multiple physiological pathways and thus a great number of biomarkers can be measured that potentially give the clinician important diagnostic and prognostic information. These will then guide patient centred therapeutic management. The current biomarkers that offer potential for guiding therapy, focus on the physiological pathways of miRNA, myocardial stretch and injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, fibrosis, coagulation and renal impairment. Each of these has different utility in current clinincal practice.

Cardiac biomarkers for risk stratification of arrhythmic death in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction

Objectives. Patients with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) are prone to ventricular tachyarrhythmias. We tested whether biomarkers C-terminal Endothelin 1 (CT-ET1), midregional pro atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) and midregional pro adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) might improve risk stratification for arrhythmic death.Methods: This prospective observational study included 160 heart failure patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) or non-ischaemic, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and 30 control patients without heart disease. Primary endpoint was arrhythmic death (ArD) or resuscitated cardiac arrest (resCA).Results: A total of 61 patients died during the median follow-up of 7.0 [5.2-8.4] years. An ArD or resCA was observed in 48 patients. Plasma levels of CT-ET1 (p = 0.002), MR-proANP (p < 0.001) and MR-proADM (p = 0.013) were significantly higher in ICM or DCM patients compared to controls. MR-proANP levels in ICM patients were associated with a significantly increased risk for ArD or resCA (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.42, [95%CI: 1.08-1.85], p = 0.011) in a multivariable Cox regression model. Plasma levels of CT-ET1 (HR = 1.07 [0.98-1.17], p = 0.113) and MR-proADM (HR = 1.80 [0.92-3.55], p = 0.087) were not associated with ArD or resCA in ICM patients. No significant association with ArD or resCA was found in DCM patients. Multivariable Cox regression showed that CT-ET1 (HR = 1.14 [1.07-1.22], p < 0.001), MR-proANP (HR = 1.64 [1.29-2.08], p < 0.001) and MR-pro ADM (HR = 2.06 [1.12-3.77], p = 0.020) were associated with a higher risk for overall mortality.Conclusion: Patients with HFrEF had elevated levels of CT-ET1, MR-proANP and MR-proADM. Plasma levels of MR-proANP are useful as predictor for arrhythmic death in patients with ICM.

Atrial Fibrillation and the Prognostic Performance of Biomarkers in Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Consideration of circulating biomarkers for risk stratification in heart failure (HF) is recommended, but the influence of atrial fibrillation (AF) on prognostic performance of many markers is unclear. We investigated the influence of AF on the prognostic performance of circulating biomarkers in HF.

METHODS

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), mid-regional-pro-atrial natriuretic peptide, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), NT-proCNP, high-sensitivity troponin-T, high-sensitivity troponin-I, mid-regional-propeptide adrenomedullin, co-peptin, growth differentiation factor-15, soluble Suppressor of Tumorigenicitiy (sST2), galectin-3, and procalcitonin plasma concentrations were measured in a prospective, multicenter study of adults with HF. AF was defined as a previous history of AF, and/or presence of AF/flutter on baseline 12-lead electrocardiogram. The primary outcome was the composite of HF-hospitalization or all-cause mortality at 2 years.

RESULTS

Among 1099 patients (age 62 ± 12years, 28% female), 261(24%) patients had AF. Above-median concentrations of all biomarkers were independently associated with increased risk of the primary outcome. Significant interactions with AF were detected for galectin-3 and sST2. In considering NT-proBNP for additive risk stratification, sST2 (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]1.85, 95%confidence interval [C.I.] 1.17-2.91) and galectin-3 (AHR1.85, 95%C.I. 1.09-2.45) were independently associated with increased primary outcome only in the presence of AF. The prognostic performance of sST2 was also stronger in AF for all-cause mortality (AF: AHR2.82, 95%C.I. 1.26-6.21; non-AF: AHR1.78, 95% C.I. 1.14-2.76 without AF), while galectin-3 predicted HF-hospitalization only in AF (AHR1.64, 95%C.I. 1.03-2.62).

CONCLUSIONS

AF modified the prognostic utility of selected guideline-endorsed HF-biomarkers. Application of markers for prognostic purposes in HF requires consideration of the presence or absence of AF.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ACTRN12610000374066.

Combination Biomarkers for Risk Stratification in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure Biomarkers Prognostication in HF

BACKGROUND

Current guidelines recommend measuring natriuretic peptide biomarkers to establish prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). We assessed whether a combination biomarkers approach improve prognostication in patients with stable HFrEF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

An observational cohort study recruited 202 patients with stable HFrEF at a single center, tertiary care hospital undergoing elective cardiac resynchronization therapy device placement from 2013 to 2015. Twenty-four biomarkers were analyzed individually and in combination using Cox proportion hazard regression model for major adverse cardiac events (ie, death, cardiac transplant, left ventricular assist device placement), and major adverse cardiac events plus HF hospitalizations. The single best biomarker for predicting major adverse cardiac events is peripheral mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (C statistic = 0.771 ± 0.045) compared to current guideline recommended N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (C=0.668 ± 0.046). The best combined biomarkers for predicting major adverse cardiac events are blood urea nitrogen, coronary sinus C-reactive protein, peripheral mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and peripheral soluble IL-1 receptor-like 1 (C = 0.767 ± 0.036).

CONCLUSIONS

In this observational cohort, the combined biomarkers (blood urea nitrogen, C-reactive protein, mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and soluble IL-1 receptor-like 1) or the single biomarker (mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin) was superior to N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide, the current guideline recommended biomarker in predicting cardiovascular outcomes in patients with HFrEF. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings and examine whether single or combined biomarkers improve HFrEF prognostication.

Biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Circulating biomarkers reflecting pathophysiological pathways involved in HF development and progression may assist clinicians in early diagnosis and management of HF patients. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are cardioprotective hormones released by cardiomyocytes in response to pressure or volume overload. The roles of B-type NP (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type NP (NT-proBNP) for diagnosis and risk stratification in HF have been extensively demonstrated, and these biomarkers are emerging tools for population screening and as guides to the start of treatment in subclinical HF. On the contrary, conflicting evidence exists on the role of NPs as a guide to HF therapy. Among the other biomarkers, high-sensitivity troponins and soluble suppression of tumorigenesis-2 are the most promising biomarkers for risk stratification, with independent value to NPs. Other biomarkers evaluated as predictors of adverse outcome are galectin-3, growth differentiation factor 15, mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin, and makers of renal dysfunction. Multi-marker scores and genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses could further refine HF management.

Mid-Regional Proadrenomedullin as a New Biomarker of Kidney and Cardiovascular Diseases-Is It the Future?

The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease and concomitant chronic kidney disease among the aging populations is responsible for considerable growth of mortality. Additionally, frequent, prolonged hospitalizations and long-term treatment generates progressive decline in bodily functions as well as substantial public health and economic burden. Accessibility to easy, non-invasive prognostic markers able to detect patients at risk of cardiovascular events may improve effective therapy and mitigate disease progression. Moreover, an early diagnosis allows time for implementation of prophylactic and educational programs that may result in decreased morbidity, improved quality of life and reduced public health expenditure. One of the promising candidates for a novel cardiovascular biomarker is mid-regional proadrenomedullin, a derivative of adrenomedullin. Adrenomedullin is a peptide hormone known for its vasodilatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic and antifibrotic effects. A remarkable advantage of mid-regional proadrenomedullin is its longer half-life which is a prerequisite for plasma measurements. These review aims to discuss the importance of mid-regional proadrenomedullin with reference to its usefulness as a biomarker of increased cardiovascular risk and kidney disease progression.

Increased concentrations of bioactive adrenomedullin subsequently to angiotensin-receptor/neprilysin-inhibitor treatment in chronic systolic heart failure

AIMS

The clinically investigated rationale for neprilysin (NEP)-inhibition by angiotensinreceptor-NEPinhibitor (ARNi) therapy is to induce elevations in endogenous natriuretic peptides. NEP, however, cleaves a broad spectrum of substrates, which partially hold significant implications in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The effect of NEP inhibition on these peptides has not been investigated thoroughly. This study explored the response of adrenomedullin (ADM) regulation to the initiation of ARNi.

METHODS

Seventy-four patients with stable HFrEF and initiation of ARNi were prospectively enrolled, 67 patients on continuous angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor(ACEi)/angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) therapy served as control. Plasma bioactive-ADM (bio-ADM), mid-regional-pro-ADM (MR-proADM), B-typenatriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal-pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) were determined at baseline, short-term, 1-year and 2-year follow up.

RESULTS

Following ARNi initiation both bio-ADM and MR-proADM concentrations were significantly increased at early and long-term follow up (bio-ADM [pg/mL]: 26.0 [interquartile range {IQR}: 17.7-37.5] vs. 50.8 [IQR: 36.5-78.1] vs. 54.6 [IQR: 42.0-97.1] vs. 57.4 [IQR: 48.5-161.6]; MR-proADM [nmol/L]: 0.87 [IQR: 0.64-1.12] vs. 1.25 [IQR: 0.93-1.79] vs. 1.42 [IQR: 0.95-1.90] vs. 1.60 [IQR: 1.12-2.46], P < .0001 for all). The ratios bio-ADM/MR-proADM and BNP/NT-proBNP increased during ARNi-therapy proving improved availability of bioactive peptides. The proportional increase of bio-ADM markedly exceeded BNP increase. Patients converted to ARNi showed similar biomarker patterns irrespective of baseline renin-angiotensin system blocker therapy, i.e. ACEi or ARB (P > .05 for all), indicating that activation of the ADM-axis arises particularly from NEPinhibition.

CONCLUSION

The significant increase of MR-proADM and bio-ADM together with an elevated bioADM/MR-proADM ratio suggest both enhanced formation and reduced breakdown of bioactive ADM following the initiation of ARNi. Activation of the ADM-axis represents a so far unrecognized effect of ARNi.

Sensitive and selective quantification of mid-regional proadrenomedullin in human plasma using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

Mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is suggested to be a prognostic indicator for various diseases. Plasma MR-proADM concentration is commonly measured using immunoassays based on its immunochemical characteristics. However, some immunological interactions affect the measured concentration. We developed and validated a sensitive and selective method for measuring plasma MR-proADM concentration using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and evaluated its clinical applicability. Plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation and solid-phase extraction. Samples obtained from healthy volunteers (n = 38), patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3 and 4-5 (non-dialysis; n = 20 and 17, respectively), and CKD stage 5D (dialysis; n = 34) were analyzed. Within-batch and batch-to-batch accuracy of the UPLC-MS/MS assay for quality control samples ranged from -0.69 % to 8.05 % and from 1.72 % to 5.76 %, respectively. The lower limit of quantification was 0.4 ng mL^-1. The MR-proADM concentration determined using the UPLC-MS/MS assay correlated strongly with that determined using the immunoassay (Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient [r] = 0.7875, p < 0.001). Median (range) plasma MR-proADM concentrations of healthy volunteers, patients with CKD stages 3 and 4-5, and patients with CKD stage 5D were 0.67 (0.43-1.27), 1.89 (0.65-6.68), 3.86 (1.60-8.75) and 3.97 (0.66-9.20) ng mL^-1, respectively, and a significant difference among four groups was confirmed. We established a sensitive and selective method for determining plasma MR-proADM concentration using UPLC-MS/MS. Our novel UPLC-MS/MS assay for determining plasma MR-proADM concentration can be used in the clinical setting and may have better selectivity than the immunoassay method.

Pro-adrenomedullin in acute decompensation of liver cirrhosis: relationship with acute-on-chronic liver failure and short-term survival

Background and aim: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by the presence of acute decompensation (AD) of cirrhosis, organ failures, and high short-term mortality rates. In present study, we explored whether Pro-adrenomedullin (Pro-ADM), a biomarker of sepsis, is a potential marker of outcome in patients admitted for AD or ACLF and whether it might be of additional value to conventional prognostic scoring systems in these patients.Methods: 332 consecutive patients with AD of cirrhosis were prospectively enrolled. Pro-ADM was measured for all patients at baseline. Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of pro-ADM on short-term survival and developing ACLF during hospital stay.Results: Serum pro-ADM levels were significantly high in non-survivors (p < .001) and showed significant correlation with ALT (r = 0.181, p = .001), INR (r = 0.144, p = .009), TB (r = 0.368, p < .001), Creatinine (r = 0.145, p = .004), MELD score (r = 0.334, p = <.001) and CLI-C OF score (r = 0.375, p= <.001). Serum pro-ADM at admission was shown to be a predictor of 28-day mortality independently of MELD and CLIF-C OF scores. Prognostic models incorporating pro-ADM achieved high C index for predicting 28-day mortality in AD patients of cirrhosis. Moreover, baseline pro-ADM was found to be predictive of ACLF development during hospital stay.Conclusions: Serum pro-ADM levels correlate with multiorgan failure and are independently associated with short-term survival and ACLF development in patients admitted for AD or ACLF.

Biomarkers and clinical scores to identify patient populations at risk of delayed antibiotic administration or intensive care admission

BACKGROUND

The performance of blood biomarkers (mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate) and clinical scores (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), National Early Warning Score (NEWS), and quick SOFA) was compared to identify patient populations at risk of delayed treatment initiation and disease progression after presenting to the emergency department (ED) with a suspected infection.

METHODS

A prospective observational study across three EDs. Biomarker and clinical score values were calculated upon presentation and 72 h, and logistic and Cox regression used to assess the strength of association. Primary outcomes comprised of 28-day mortality prediction and delayed antibiotic administration or intensive care (ICU) admission, whilst secondary outcomes identified subsequent disease progression.

RESULTS

Six hundred eighty-four patients were enrolled with hospitalisation, ICU admission, and infection-related 28-day mortality rates of 72.8%, 3.4%, and 4.4%, respectively. MR-proADM and NEWS had the strongest association with hospitalisation and the requirement for antibiotic administration, whereas MR-proADM alone had the strongest association with ICU admission (OR [95% CI]: 5.8 [3.1 - 10.8]) and mortality (HR [95% CI]: 3.8 [2.2 - 6.5]). Patient subgroups with high MR-proADM concentrations (≥ 1.77 nmol/L) and low NEWS (< 5 points) values had significantly higher rates of ICU admission (8.1% vs 1.6%; p < 0.001), hospital readmission (18.9% vs. 5.9%; p < 0.001), infection-related mortality (13.5% vs. 0.2%; p < 0.001), and disease progression (29.7% vs. 4.9%; p < 0.001) than corresponding patients with low MR-proADM concentrations. ICU admission was delayed by 1.5 [0.25 - 5.0] days in patients with high MR-proADM and low NEWS values compared to corresponding patients with high NEWS values, despite similar 28-day mortality rates (13.5% vs. 16.5%). Antibiotics were withheld in 17.4% of patients with high MR-proADM and low NEWS values, with higher subsequent rates of ICU admission (27.3% vs. 4.8%) and infection-related hospital readmission (54.5% vs. 14.3%) compared to those administered antibiotics during ED treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with low severity signs of infection but high MR-proADM concentrations had an increased likelihood of subsequent disease progression, delayed antibiotic administration or ICU admission. Appropriate triage decisions and the rapid use of antibiotics in patients with high MR-proADM concentrations may constitute initial steps in escalating or intensifying early treatment strategies.

Established and Emerging Roles of Biomarkers in Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome with an enormous societal burden in terms of cost, morbidity, and mortality. Natriuretic peptide testing is now widely used to support diagnosis, prognostication, and management of patients with HF and are incorporated into HF clinical practice guidelines. Beyond the natriuretic peptides, novel biomarkers may supplement traditional clinical and laboratory testing to improve understanding of the complex disease process of HF and possibly to personalize care for those affected through better individual phenotyping. In this review, we will discuss natriuretic peptides and the more novel biomarkers by dividing them into categories based on the major pathophysiologic pathways they represent. Given the complex physiology in HF, it is reasonable to expect that the future of biomarker testing lies in the application of multimarker testing panels, precision medicine to improve HF care delivery, and the use of biomarkers in proteomics and metabolomics to further improve HF care.

Empagliflozin in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction: a randomized clinical trial (Empire HF)

Background

Data from recent cardiovascular outcome trials in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) suggest that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors can prevent development of heart failure (HF) and prolong life in patients without HF. Ongoing event-driven trials are investigating whether the same effect is present in patients with well-defined HF. The mechanism behind the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with T2D and the potential effect in patients with overt HF is presently unknown.

Methods

This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel group, clinical trial including HF patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) with an ejection fraction ≤ 40% on optimal therapy recruited from specialized HF clinics in Denmark. The primary aim is to investigate the effect of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin on N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Secondary endpoints include cardiac biomarkers, function and hemodynamics, metabolic and renal parameters, daily activity level, and quality of life. Patients are assigned 1:1 to 90 days treatment with empagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo. Patients with T2D are required to be on recommended doses of anti-glycemic therapy with a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 6.5–10.0% (48–86 mmol/mol). To show a between-group difference in the change of NT-proBNP of 30%, a total of 189 patients will be included.

Discussion

The Empire HF trial will elucidate the effects and modes of action of empagliflozin in HFrEF patients with and without T2D and provide important mechanistic data which will complement ongoing event-driven trials.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrialsregister.eu, EudraCT Number 2017-001341-27. Registered on 29 May 2017.

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03198585. Registered on 26 June 2017.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-019-3474-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Adrenomedullin as a Protein with Multifunctional Behavior and Effects in Various Organs and Tissues

In literature, it has been reported that adrenomedullin, which is generally thought to have vasodilator, natriuretic and diuretic effects, is synthesized in almost all body, especially CNS, vascular muscles and endothelium, heart, liver, lung, kidney, gastric mocosa, intestinal endothelium and various blood cells. It has been found that the possible effects of adrenomedullin can be demonstrated directly or indirectly by means of active mediators, neuropeptides, enzymes and hormones. It is also suggested that it regulates the endocrine system by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. It increases in heart failure, acute coronary syndromes, hypertensive conditions, cerebrovascular accessory, chronic renal failure and periodontitis and decreases in peptic ulcer and intestinal diseases. However, it is still not clear whether increase/decrease in adrenomedullin level is a cause of a disease or is a result of damage due to an illness. This peptide, which could be thought to multifunctional, should be considered as a molecule with genetic coding that may have different effects on different tissues and conditions. For all these reasons, we aimed to review the multifonctional behavior of adrenomedullin in the light of the current literature to pioneer new hypotheses and discuss possible mechanisms.

Natural and synthetic peptides in the cardiovascular diseases: An update on diagnostic and therapeutic potentials

Several peptides play an important role in physiological and pathological conditions into the cardiovascular system. In addition to well-known vasoactive agents such as angiotensin II, endothelin, serotonin or natriuretic peptides, the vasoconstrictor Urotensin-II (Uro-II) and the vasodilators Urocortins (UCNs) and Adrenomedullin (AM) have been implicated in the control of vascular tone and blood pressure as well as in cardiovascular disease states including congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and pulmonary and systemic hypertension. Therefore these peptides, together with their receptors, become important therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Circulating levels of these agents in the blood are markedly modified in patients with specific CVDs compared with those in healthy patients, becoming also potential biomarkers for these pathologies. This review will provide an overview of current knowledge about the physiological roles of Uro-II, UCN and AM in the cardiovascular system and their implications in cardiovascular diseases. It will further focus on the structural modifications carried out on original peptide sequences in the search of analogues with improved physiochemical properties as well as in the delivery methods. Finally, we have overviewed the possible application of these peptides and/or their precursors as biomarkers of CVDs.

Cardiovascular biomarkers predict fragility fractures in older adults

OBJECTIVE

To assess the role of four biomarkers of neuroendocrine activation and endothelial dysfunction in the longitudinal prediction of fragility fractures.

METHODS

We analysed a population-based prospective cohort of 5415 community-dwelling individuals (mean age, 68.9±6.2 years) enrolled in the Malmö Preventive Project followed during 8.1±2.9 years, and investigated the longitudinal association between C-terminal pro-arginine vasopressin (CT-proAVP), C-terminal endothelin-1 precursor fragment (CT-proET-1), the mid-regional fragments of pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), and incident vertebral, pelvic and extremity fractures.

RESULTS

Overall, 1030 (19.0%) individuals suffered vertebral, pelvic or extremity fracture. They were older (70.7±5.8 vs 68.4±6.3 years), more likely women (46.9% vs 26.3%), had lower body mass index and diastolic blood pressure, were more often on antihypertensive treatment (44.1% vs 38.4%) and had more frequently history of fracture (16.3% vs 8.1%). Higher levels of MR-proADM (adjusted HR (aHR) per 1 SD: 1.51, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.28, p<0.001) and MR-proANP (aHR: 1.23, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.45, p<0.001) were independently associated with increased risk of any fracture. The fracture risk increased linearly across MR-proANP quartiles. Individuals who were in the top quartile of all four biomarkers had a significant higher risk of fracture at any site (aHR: 2.32, 95% CI 1.86 to 2.91), vertebral fracture (aHR: 3.16, 95% CI 1.97 to 5.07) and femoral fracture (aHR: 2.35, 95% CI 1.64 to 3.36).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated levels of MR-proADM and MR-proANP independently predict fragility fractures in older adults. In subjects with top quartile levels of all four biomarkers there is a twofold to threefold increase in risk of vertebral and femoral fractures.

Mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide to predict clinical course in heart failure patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy

Aims

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) induces reverse cardiac remodelling in heart failure (HF), but many patients receiving CRT remain non-responders. This study assessed the role of amino-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), mid-regional-pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), and mid-regional-pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) at the time of device implantation to predict favourable clinical course (CRT response and/or risk of MACE) in HF patients receiving CRT.

Methods and results

A total of 137 HF patients were prospectively included. Blood was drawn from the coronary sinus (CS) at CRT implantation, and from a peripheral vein (PV) simultaneously and after 6 months. Clinical CRT response at 6 months and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 2 years were assessed. Baseline PV-levels of MR-proANP (202 vs. 318 pmol/L, P = 0.009) and MR-proADM (843 vs. 1112 pmol/L, P = 0.02) were lower in CRT responders compared with non-responders. At 6 months, CRT responders showed a decrease in MR-proANP levels, compared with an increase in non-responders (-32 vs. +7 pmol/L, P = 0.02). During the same period, NT-proBNP decreased by a similar way in responders and non-responders, while MR-proADM was unchanged in both groups. High baseline MR-proANP, either in PV (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.24-0.71, P = 0.002) or CS (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.15-0.70, P = 0.005) was associated with reduced likelihood of CRT response. Furthermore, PV and CS levels of NT-proBNP, MR-proANP, and MR-proADM were all associated with increased risk of 2-year MACE (all P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Mid-regional-pro-atrial natriuretic peptide may assist prediction of clinical course in HF patients undergoing CRT implantation. Low circulating MR-proANP at the time of device implantation is associated with CRT response and more favourable outcome.

Prognostic performance of serial in-hospital measurements of copeptin and multiple novel biomarkers among patients with worsening heart failure: results from the MOLITOR study

Aims

In heart failure, various biomarkers are established for diagnosis and risk stratification; however, little is known about the relevance of serial measurements during an episode worsening heart failure (WHF). This study sought to investigate the trajectory of natriuretic peptides and multiple novel biomarkers during hospitalization for WHF and to determine the best time point to predict outcome.

Methods and results

MOLITOR (Impact of Therapy Optimisation on the Level of Biomarkers in Patients with Acute and Decompensated Chronic Heart Failure) was an eight‐centre prospective study of 164 patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of WHF. C‐terminal fragment of pre‐pro‐vasopressin (copeptin), N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), mid‐regional pro‐atrial natriuretic peptide (MR‐proANP), mid‐regional pro‐adrenomedullin (MR‐proADM), and C‐terminal pro‐endothelin‐1 (CT‐proET1) were measured on admission, after 24, 48, and 72 h, and every 72 h thereafter, at discharge and follow‐up visits. Their performance to predict all‐cause mortality and rehospitalization at 90 days was compared. All biomarkers decreased during recompensation (P < 0.05) except MR‐proADM. Copeptin at admission was the best predictor of 90 day mortality or rehospitalization (χ² = 16.63, C‐index = 0.724, P < 0.001), followed by NT‐proBNP (χ² = 10.53, C‐index = 0.646, P = 0.001), MR‐proADM (χ² = 9.29, C‐index = 0.686, P = 0.002), MR‐proANP (χ² = 8.75, C‐index = 0.631, P = 0.003), and CT‐proET1 (χ² = 6.60, C‐index = 0.64, P = 0.010). Re‐measurement of copeptin at 72 h and of NT‐proBNP at 48 h increased prognostic value (χ² = 23.48, C‐index = 0.718, P = 0.00001; χ² = 14.23, C‐index = 0.650, P = 0.00081, respectively).

Conclusions

This largest sample of serial measurements of multiple biomarkers in WHF found copeptin at admission with re‐measurement at 72 h to be the best predictor of 90 day mortality and rehospitalization.

Novel Biomarkers for the Risk Stratification of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The use of biomarkers in heart failure (HF) is a rapidly changing field. The purpose of this review is to assess the current evidence of the use of biomarkers for risk stratification in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

RECENT FINDINGS

Despite differences in pathophysiology between HF with reduced ejection fraction and HFpEF, traditional HF biomarkers such as brain natriuretic peptide and troponin retain prognostic value in most HFpEF-specific populations. Biomarkers of key pathophysiologic components of HFpEF, such as myocardial fibrosis, remodeling, and systemic inflammation are also valuable prognostic markers. Further investigation into HF biomarkers may identify significant therapeutic targets for the treatment of HFpEF.

Adrenomedullin surges are linked to acute episodes of the systemic capillary leak syndrome (Clarkson disease)

BACKGROUND

Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome (SCLS) is an extremely rare and life-threatening vascular disorder of unknown etiology. SCLS is characterized by abrupt and transient episodes of hypotensive shock and edema due to plasma leakage into peripheral tissues. The disorder has garnered attention recently because its initial presentation resembles more common vascular disorders including systemic anaphylaxis, sepsis, and acute infections with the Ebola/Marburg family of filoviruses. Although approximately 70-85% of patients with SCLS have a concurrent monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS), any contribution of the paraprotein to acute flares is unknown.

PROCEDURE

To identify circulating factors that might trigger acute SCLS crises, we profiled transcriptomes of paired peripheral blood mononuclear cell fractions obtained from patients during acute attacks and convalescent intervals by microarray.

RESULTS

This study uncovered 61 genes that were significantly up- or downregulated more than 2.5-fold in acute samples relative to respective baselines. One of the most upregulated genes was ADM, which encodes the vasoactive peptide adrenomedullin. A stable ADM protein surrogate (pro-ADM) was markedly elevated in SCLS acute sera compared to remission samples or sera from healthy controls. Monocytes and endothelial cells (ECs) from SCLS subjects expressed significantly more ADM in response to proinflammatory stimuli compared to healthy control cells. Application of ADM to ECs elicited protective effects on vascular barrier function, suggesting a feedback protective mechanism in SCLS.

CONCLUSIONS

Since ADM has established hypotensive effects, differentiating between these dual actions of ADM is crucial for therapeutic applications aimed at more common diseases associated with increased ADM levels.

Cortisol Outperforms Novel Cardiovascular, Inflammatory, and Neurohumoral Biomarkers in the Prediction of Outcome in Acute Pancreatitis

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to assess whether copeptin, pro-atrial natriuretic peptide, proadrenomedullin, and cortisol are associated with disease severity in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and to compare their ability in predicting organ failure or death.

METHODS

From April 2011 to January 2015, 142 patients with AP were included in this prospective single-center study and observed for 4 days. Disease severity was rated by the Atlanta 1992 and 2012 criteria and organ failure by the modified Marshall score. The aforementioned laboratory markers, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were measured.

RESULTS

Patients with moderate to severe AP showed significantly higher plasma concentrations of all biomarkers than did those with mild AP. Overall, 30 organ failures or deaths occurred. All biomarkers except cortisol had only modest discriminatory ability, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) between 0.44 and 0.66. Cortisol showed an AUC of 0.78 compared with the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score with an AUC of 0.75.

CONCLUSIONS

Cortisol was the best predictor of organ failure or death. All biomarkers were associated with disease severity to a similar degree as C-reactive protein, the criterion-standard marker in AP. Further studies are warranted to define their clinical role.

Prognostic importance of emerging cardiac, inflammatory, and renal biomarkers in chronic heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction and anaemia: RED-HF study

Aims

To test the prognostic value of emerging biomarkers in the Reduction of Events by Darbepoetin Alfa in Heart Failure (RED‐HF) trial.

Methods and results

Circulating cardiac [N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), and high‐sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT)], neurohumoral [mid‐regional pro‐adrenomedullin (MR‐proADM) and copeptin], renal (cystatin C), and inflammatory [high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP)] biomarkers were measured at randomization in 1853 participants with complete data. The relationship between these biomarkers and the primary composite endpoint of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death over 28 months of follow‐up (n = 834) was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression, the c‐statistic and the net reclassification index (NRI). After adjustment, the hazard ratio (HR) for the composite outcome in the top tertile of the distribution compared to the lowest tertile for each biomarker was: NT‐proBNP 3.96 (95% CI 3.16–4.98), hsTnT 3.09 (95% CI 2.47–3.88), MR‐proADM 2.28 (95% CI 1.83–2.84), copeptin 1.66 (95% CI 1.35–2.04), cystatin C 1.92 (95% CI 1.55–2.37), and hsCRP 1.51 (95% CI 1.27–1.80). A basic clinical prediction model was improved on addition of each biomarker individually, most strongly by NT‐proBNP (NRI +62.3%, P < 0.001), but thereafter was only improved marginally by addition of hsTnT (NRI +33.1%, P = 0.004). Further addition of biomarkers did not improve discrimination further. Findings were similar for all‐cause mortality.

Conclusion

Once NT‐proBNP is included, only hsTnT moderately further improved risk stratification in this group of chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients with moderate anaemia. NT‐proBNP and hsTnT far outperform other emerging biomarkers in prediction of adverse outcome.

Stable-State Midrange-Proadrenomedullin Level Is a Strong Predictor of Mortality in Patients With COPD

BACKGROUND

Midrange-proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) has been shown to be elevated in patients hospitalized for an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) and in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. When measured during AECOPDs, MR-proADM has also been shown to be a predictor of mortality. We hypothesized that MR-proADM levels measured in a stable state could also predict mortality.

METHODS

We included 181 patients in whom we had paired plasma samples for MR-proADM determinations during a stable state and at hospitalization for an AECOPD when they also produced sputum. Time to death or censoring was compared between patients with MR-proADM above or below the median of 0.71 nmol/L. The predictive value of MR-proADM for survival was determined by calculating the C statistic.

RESULTS

Patients with COPD and MR-proADM levels > 0.71 nmol/L in the stable state had a threefold-higher risk of dying than did patients with MR-proADM levels < 0.71 nmol/L (hazard ratio, 2.98 [95% CI, 1.51-5.90]; C statistic, 0.76). The corrected OR for 1-year mortality was 8.90 (95% CI, 1.94-44.6) in patients with high MR-proADM levels measured in the stable state, compared with patients with low levels measured in the stable state.

CONCLUSIONS

MR-proADM measured in the stable state appeared to be a strong predictor of mortality in patients with COPD. MR-proADM is far easier to measure than other predictors of mortality in COPD, such as BMI, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity score.

Pro-Adrenomedullin predicts 10-year all-cause mortality in community-dwelling patients: a prospective cohort study

Background

Several studies found mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (ProADM), the prohormone of the cardiovascular protein adrenomedullin, to be strongly associated with short-term mortality, mostly in the inpatient setting. We evaluated associations of ProADM levels with 10-year mortality in community-dwelling primary care patients with respiratory tract infections.

Methods

This is a post-hoc analysis using clinical and biomarker data of 134 primary care patients with respiratory tract infections. ProADM was measured on admission and after 7 days in batch-analysis. 10-year follow-up data was collected by GP, patient and relative tracing through phone interviews. We calculated Cox regression models and area under the receiver operating characteristics curves to assess associations of ProADM with 10-year all-cause mortality.

Results

During the 10-year follow-up 6% of included patients died. Median baseline ProADM blood levels (nmol/l) were significantly higher in non-survivors compared to survivors (0.5, IQR 0.4–1.3; vs. 0.2, IQR 0.1–0.5; p = 0.02) and showed a significant association with 10-year all-cause mortality in an age-adjusted cox regression model (HR: 2.5, 95%-CI: 1.0–6.1, p = 0.04). ProADM levels on day 7 showed similar results.

Conclusions

This posthoc analysis found an association of elevated ProADM blood levels and 10-year all-cause mortality in a primary care cohort with respiratory tract infections. Due to the methodological limitations including incomplete data regarding follow-up information and biomarker measurement, this study warrants validation in future larger studies.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials, SRCTN73182671

Mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin and ST2 in heart failure: Contributions to diagnosis and prognosis

Heart failure has a high prevalence in developed countries. It is a frequent cause of hospital admission and has an important impact on morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Biomarkers have been widely studied in heart failure, as they improve diagnosis and prognostic assessment. Natriuretic peptides are already a part of daily clinical practice but several other biomarkers are being studied. This review focuses on mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and ST2. Neither of these biomarkers is useful in the diagnosis of acute heart failure. However, both have considerable short- and long-term prognostic value in patients with acute and with stable chronic heart failure. The utility of these two biomarkers in guiding heart failure treatment is yet to be established. ST2 appears to have some advantages compared to MR-proADM, because it is more closely associated with ventricular remodeling and fibrosis.

Prognostic potential of midregional pro-adrenomedullin following decompensation for systolic heart failure: comparison with cardiac natriuretic peptides

AIMS

Whereas guidelines recommend the routine use of natriuretic peptides (NPs) in heart failure (HF) care, the clinical relevance and prognostic potential of midregional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) is less well established. We aimed to compare the prognostic potential of MR-proADM after acute decompensation for systolic HF with that of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and midregional pro-atrial NP (MR-proANP), to investigate the significance of high/rising MR-proADM, and to evaluate the incremental prognostic yield of repeat measurements.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Interdisciplinary Network Heart Failure (INH) programme enrolled patients hospitalized for acute systolic HF and followed them for 18 months (100% complete). Of 1022 INH participants, 917 (68 ± 12 years, 28% female) who had biomaterials available were enrolled. High MR-proADM was associated with more impaired left ventricular function, higher comorbidity burden, lower doses of HF medications, and lower likelihood of left ventricular reverse remodelling. Compared with NPs, MR-proADM had superior prognostic significance (concordance index 0.72 for all-cause mortality), improved Cox regression models including NPs (P < 0.001), and was the only biomarker also predicting non-cardiac death (hazard ratio 1.8 vs. 1.0). In the setting of low NPs, patients with high MR-proADM experienced non-cardiac death more often. Six month MR-proADM enhanced models including baseline MR-proADM (P < 0.001) for prediction of all-cause death (net reclassification index: 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.19-0.78).

CONCLUSION

MR-proADM was found to correlate with the global disease burden in HF and proved a potent prognostic indicator, capturing the risk for both cardiac and non-cardiac death. Serial MR-proADM measurements further enhanced risk assessment, thus facilitating substantial reclassification.

Effects of a cardiac rehabilitation programme on plasma cardiac biomarkers in patients with chronic heart failure

Background Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves the symptoms, exercise capacity and quality of life of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. Its effects on new plasma biomarkers of prognostic importance are unknown. The present study aimed at analysing the effects of a structured CR programme on plasma cardiac biomarkers in a large population of patients with CHF and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods We enrolled 107 consecutive CHF patients with LVEF ≤ 45% in an ambulatory CR programme. Peak VO₂ and plasma levels of Galectin-3, mid-regional proANP (MR-proADM), soluble suppressor of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) and mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proANP) were assessed at inclusion and at the end of CR. Twenty-four unenrolled patients were managed with standard medical care and evaluated over the same period (no-CR group). Results Galectin-3, sST2, MR-proADM and MR-proANP plasma levels decreased after CR, with respective median reductions of 6.3% for Galectin 3 ( p < 0.001), 7.4% for sST2 ( p = 0.036), 6.4% for MR-proADM ( p = 0.001) and 16% for MR-proANP ( p < 0.001). MR-proADM was negatively correlated with peak VO₂ (ρ = -0.529, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.654 to -0.375, p < 0.001), and so were their relative variations along the course of CR (ρ = -0.357, 95% CI -0.518 to -0.172, p < 0.001). No change occurred in terms of biomarkers in the no-CR group. Conclusions Plasma cardiac biomarkers such as Galectin-3, MR-proADM, sST2 and MR-proANP all decreased after CR in CHF patients, suggesting an overall improvement in the neuro-hormonal profile.

Prognostic value of human mature adrenomedullin in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Adrenomedullin (ADM) correlates with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and in patients with heart failure. Measurement of human mature ADM (mADM) has been difficult, and recent studies have used its surrogate - the mid-regional pro-ADM (MRproADM). Our objective was to determine whether mADM measured by a novel sandwich immunoassay, using the anti-C-terminal and an anti-mid-regional monoclonal antibody, was prognostic of 30-day, 90-day, 1-year, and 2-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in 1111 consecutive patients who have suffered an AMI. We also compared it with the effect of MRproADM in the same patient population. A total of 311 (27.0%) patients experienced the primary endpoint at 2 years follow-up. The median (inter-quartile range) of mADM was significantly higher in patients who experienced a 2-year MACE [60.90 (44.00-86.97)] pg/ml, compared to event-free survivors [49.59 (36.20-68.15)] pg/ml (P < 0.001). mADM, taken as 1 SD of the continuous variable, was predictive of MACEs in multivariate analysis, with hazard ratios [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] at 90 days [1.28 (1.01-1.62)], 1 year [1.31 (1.08-1.59)], and 2 years [1.42 (1.07-1.64)]. It was also independently predictive of death at 1-year [1.52 (1.12-2.05)] and 2-year [1.42 (1.07-1.89)] follow-up. mADM was a better predictor of these outcomes than MRproADM, apart from death at 90 days, and combined death and heart failure hospitalization at 1 and 2 years, respectively. Human mADM can be reliably measured and predicts MACE events at medium-term follow-up, and confirms the paradigm of risk stratification using MRproADM - a surrogate for the active hormone. The relationship between mADM and MACE appears to be a continuum.

Adrenomedullin Is Associated With Surgical Trauma and Impaired Renal Function in Vascular Surgery Patients

BACKGROUND:

Patients undergoing vascular surgery are prone to perioperative organ injury because of both higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the extent of surgery. Early detection of organ failure is essential to facilitate appropriate medical care. Midregional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) has been investigated in acute medical care settings to guide clinical decision-making regarding patient pathways and to identify patients prone to imminent cardiovascular or inflammatory complications. In this study, we evaluated the impact of perioperative MR-proADM levels as an early marker of perioperative cardiovascular and inflammatory stress reactions and kidney injury.

METHODS:

The study was conducted as a monocentric, prospective, noninterventional trial at Hannover Medical School, Germany. A total of 454 consecutive patients who underwent open vascular surgery were followed from the day prior to until 30 days after surgery. The composite primary end point was defined as the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), acute kidney injury (AKI), or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Measurements were correlated with both medical history and postoperative MACE, AKI, or SIRS using univariate and multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS:

One hundred thirty-nine (31%) of the patients reached the primary end point within the study interval. Midregional pro-adrenomedullin change was associated with the combined primary end point and with the intensity of surgical trauma. Midregional pro-adrenomedullin change was increased in patients reaching the secondary end points, SIRS (optimal cutoff: 0.2 nmol/L) and AKI (optimal cutoff: 0.7 nmol/L), but not in patients with MACEs.

CONCLUSION:

Increased levels of MR-proADM within the perioperative setting (1) were linked to the invasiveness of surgery and (2) identified patients with ongoing loss of renal function. Increased MR-proADM levels may therefore identify a subgroup of patients prone to excessive cardiovascular stress but did not directly correlate with adverse cardiac events. Consistently low levels of MR-proADM may identify a subgroup of patients with acceptable low risk to guide discharge from high-density care units.

Adrenomedullin: a marker of impaired hemodynamics, organ dysfunction, and poor prognosis in cardiogenic shock

Background

The clinical CardShock risk score, including baseline lactate levels, was recently shown to facilitate risk stratification in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS). As based on baseline parameters, however, it may not reflect the change in mortality risk in response to initial therapies. Adrenomedullin is a prognostic biomarker in several cardiovascular diseases and was recently shown to associate with hemodynamic instability in patients with septic shock. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value and association with hemodynamic parameters of bioactive adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) in patients with CS.

Methods

CardShock was a prospective, observational, European multinational cohort study of CS. In this sub-analysis, serial plasma bio-ADM and arterial blood lactate measurements were collected from 178 patients during the first 10 days after detection of CS.

Results

Both bio-ADM and lactate were higher in 90-day non-survivors compared to survivors at all time points (P < 0.05 for all). Lactate showed good prognostic value during the initial 24 h (AUC 0.78 at admission and 0.76 at 24 h). Subsequently, lactate returned normal (≤2 mmol/L) in most patients regardless of later outcome with lower prognostic value. By contrast, bio-ADM showed increasing prognostic value from 48 h and beyond (AUC 0.71 at 48 h and 0.80 at 5–10 days). Serial measurements of either bio-ADM or lactate were independent of and provided added value to CardShock risk score (P < 0.001 for both). Ninety-day mortality was more than double higher in patients with high levels of bio-ADM (>55.7 pg/mL) at 48 h compared to those with low bio-ADM levels (49.1 vs. 22.6%, P = 0.001). High levels of bio-ADM were associated with impaired cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure during the study period. Furthermore, high levels of bio-ADM at 48 to 96 h were related to persistently impaired cardiac and end-organ function.

Conclusions

Bio-ADM is a valuable prognosticator and marker of impaired hemodynamics in CS patients. High levels of bio-ADM may show shock refractoriness and developing end-organ dysfunction and thus help to guide therapeutic approach in patients with CS.

Study identifier of CardShock study NCT01374867 at clinicaltrials.gov

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13613-016-0229-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Beyond Natriuretic Peptides for Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome with an enormous societal burden in terms of cost and morbidity and mortality. Natriuretic peptide (NP) testing is now widely used to support diagnosis, prognostication, and management of patients with HF, but NPs come with limitations, including vulnerability to the presence of obesity, atrial fibrillation, and renal dysfunction, for example. Beyond the NPs, novel biomarkers may supplement traditional clinical and laboratory testing to improve understanding of the complex disease process of HF, and possibly to personalize care for those affected through better individual phenotyping.

CONTENT

In this review we discuss novel biomarkers by dividing them into categories based on major pathophysiologic pathways they represent including myocardial stretch/stress, cardiac extracellular matrix remodeling, cardiomyocyte injury/death, oxidative stress, inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and renal dysfunction.

SUMMARY

Given the limitations of NPs, along with the complex physiology in HF, it is logical to consider utilization of novel biomarkers providing orthogonal biological and clinical information. Several novel HF biomarkers have shown promise but have substantial expectations to meet before being used clinically. Nonetheless, it is reasonable to expect the future lies in the application of multibiomarker panels for the improvement in management of HF and the personalization of care.

Novel Biomarkers of Heart Failure

Although substantial improvements have been made in majority of cardiac disorders, heart failure (HF) remains a major health problem, with both increasing incidence and prevalence over the past decades. For that reason, the number of potential biomarkers that could contribute to diagnosis and treatment of HF patients is, almost exponentially, increasing over the recent years. The biomarkers that are, at the moment, more or less ready for use in everyday clinical practice, reflect different pathophysiological processes present in HF. In this review, seven groups of biomarkers associated to myocardial stretch (mid-regional proatrial natriuretic peptide, MR-proANP), myocyte injury (high-sensitive troponins, hs-cTn; heart-type fatty acid-binding protein, H-FABP; glutathione transferase P1, GSTP1), matrix remodeling (galectin-3; soluble isoform of suppression of tumorigenicity 2, sST2), inflammation (growth differentiation factor-15, GDF-15), renal dysfunction (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, NGAL; kidney injury molecule-1, KIM-1), neurohumoral activation (adrenomedullin, MR-proADM; copeptin), and oxidative stress (ceruloplasmin; myeloperoxidase, MPO; 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG; thioredoxin 1, Trx1) in HF will be overviewed. It is important to note that clinical value of individual biomarkers within the single time points in both diagnosis and outcome prediction in HF is limited. Hence, the future of biomarker application in HF lies in the multimarker panel strategy, which would include specific combination of biomarkers that reflect different pathophysiological processes underlying HF.

Impact of Exhaled Breath Acetone in the Prognosis of Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF). One Year of Clinical Follow-up

BACKGROUND

The identification of new biomarkers of heart failure (HF) could help in its treatment. Previously, our group studied 89 patients with HF and showed that exhaled breath acetone (EBA) is a new noninvasive biomarker of HF diagnosis. However, there is no data about the relevance of EBA as a biomarker of prognosis.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate whether EBA could give prognostic information in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

METHODS

After breath collection and analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and by spectrophotometry, the 89 patients referred before were followed by one year. Study physicians, blind to the results of cardiac biomarker testing, ascertained vital status of each study participant at 12 months.

RESULTS

The composite endpoint death and heart transplantation (HT) were observed in 35 patients (39.3%): 29 patients (32.6%) died and 6 (6.7%) were submitted to HT within 12 months after study enrollment. High levels of EBA (≥3.7μg/L, 50th percentile) were associated with a progressively worse prognosis in 12-month follow-up (log-rank = 11.06, p = 0.001). Concentrations of EBA above 3.7μg/L increased the risk of death or HT in 3.26 times (HR = 3.26, 95%CI = 1.56-6.80, p = 0.002) within 12 months. In a multivariable cox regression model, the independent predictors of all-cause mortality were systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate and EBA levels.

CONCLUSIONS

High EBA levels could be associated to poor prognosis in HFrEF patients.

Stable State Proadrenomedullin Level in COPD Patients: A Validation Study

In patients with stable COPD, proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) has been shown to be a good predictor for mortality. This study aims to provide an external validation of earlier observed cut-off values used by Zuur-Telgen et al. and Stolz.et al. in COPD patients in stable state and at hospitalization for an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). From the COMIC cohort study we included 545 COPD patients with a blood sample obtained in stable state (n = 490) and/or at hospitalization for an AECOPD (n = 101). Time to death was compared between patients with MR-proADM cut-off scores 0.71 and 0.75 nmol/L for stable state or 0.79 and 0.84 nmol/l for AECOPD. The predictive value of MR-proADM for survival was represented by the C statistic. Risk ratios were corrected for sex, age, BMI, presence of heart failure, and GOLD stage. Patients above the cut-off of 0.75 nmol/l had a 2-fold higher risk of dying than patient below this cut-off (95% CI: 1.20-3.41). The cut-off of 0.71 nmol/l showed only a borderline significantly higher risk of 1.67 (95% CI: 0.98-2.85). The corrected odds ratios for one-year mortality were 3.15 (95% CI 1.15-8.64) and 3.70 (95% CI 1.18-11.6) in patients with MR-proADM levels above versus below the cut-off of respectively 0.75 and 0.71 nmol/l measured in stable state. MR-proADM levels in samples at hospitalization for an AECOPD were not predictive for mortality in this validation cohort. MR-proADM in stable state is a powerful predictor for mortality.