Pentraxin-3 is Associated with Adverse Diastolic Remodeling in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction after Successful Reperfusion by Primary Percutaneous Intervention

Effects of a medium cut-off dialyzer on inflammation and cardiac and vascular function in hemodialysis patients with heart failure

INTRODUCTION

Expanded hemodialysis (HDx) could provide clearance of larger middle-molecule uremic toxins. We compared the effect of hemodialysis with medium cut-off membranes and high-flux (HFHD) membranes regarding changes in inflammation and vascular and left ventricular function.

METHODS

This was a single-center, prospective, parallel-group comparative study. Patients were divided into two groups (HDx: 25 patients and HFHD: 26 patients). All measurements were performed at baseline and 12 weeks. Serum c-reactive protein, interkelukin-18, pentraxin-3, β-2 microglobulin, and brain natriuretic peptide were measured. We used pulse wave velocity and augmentation index to assess arterial stiffness and echocardiography to evaluate left and right ventricular function.

FINDINGS

We enrolled 51 patients. Although serum c-reactive protein, interkelukin-18, pentraxin 3, and β-2 microglobulin were significantly decreased in the HDx group (p = 0.02, p < 0.001, p = 0.002, and p = 0.02, respectively), there was no significant change in HFHD group at 12th week. Serum c-reactive protein and interkelukin-18were significantly lower in the HDx group compared to the HFHD group in the 12th week (p = 0.007 and p = 0.03, respectively). We observed a significant decrease in pulse wave velocity in the HDx group at the end of the study (p = 0.03). Although there was no significant change in pulse wave velocity in the HFHD group, pulse wave velocity was similar between the HDx and HFHD groups in the 12th week. We detected a significant decrease in the mean isovolumetric relaxation time in the HDx group (p = 0.006). However, there was no significant difference in isovolumetric relaxation time between the HDx and HFHD groups in the 12th week.

DISCUSSION

HDx provides better clearance of middle molecular uremic toxins and inflammatory biomarkers, and it may be associated with better central hemodynamic parameters and diastolic functions.

Higher Plasma Pentraxin-3 Level Predicts Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

Background: Association between plasma pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) and clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains not fully determined. An updated meta-analysis of cohort studies was performed to systematically evaluate the association.

Methods: Cohort studies evaluating the association between plasma PTX-3 and adverse outcomes [mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs)] in adults with CAD were identified by systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Only studies with multivariate analysis were included. A random-effects model incorporating the potential intrastudy heterogeneity was used for the meta-analysis.

Results: A total of 16 studies including 11,007 patients were included. Pooled results showed that patients with highest level of PTX-3 were independently associated with higher risk of mortality [adjusted risk ratio (RR): 2.09, 95% CI: 1.60 to 2.74, p < 0.001; I² = 50%] and MACEs (adjusted RR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.43 to 2.28, p < 0.001; I² = 49%). Subgroup analyses showed that the associations between PTX-3 and poor prognosis in CAD were consistent in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infraction, non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome, and stable CAD (p < 0.05 for each subgroup). Besides, the association between PTX-3 and increased incidence of mortality and MACEs were consistent in short-term (within 1 year) and long-term (over 1 year) studies and in studies with or without adjustment of C-reactive protein (CRP) (p < 0.05 for each subgroup).

Conclusion: Higher plasma PTX-3 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with CAD, which may be independent of the CAD subtype, follow-up durations, and adjustment of CRP.