| Popis: |
Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is a cytokine that has been implicated as a factor involved in myocardial remodelling. The objective of the present study was to establish the relationship between circulating levels of CT-1 and measures of left ventricular size and systolic function in patients with heart failure. We recruited 15 normal subjects [six male; median age 60 years (range 30-79 years)] and 15 patients [11 male; median age 66 years (range 43-84 years)] with a clinical diagnosis of heart failure and echocardiographic left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). Echocardiographic variables (left ventricular wall motion index, end-diastolic and -systolic volumes, stroke volume, fractional shortening) and plasma CT-1 levels were determined. In patients with LVSD [median wall motion index 0.6 (range 0.3-1.4)], CT-1 was elevated [median 110.4 fmol/ml (range 33-516 fmol/ml)] compared with controls [wall motion index 2 in all cases; median CT-1 level 34.2 fmol/ml (range 6.9-54.1 fmol/ml); P |
