Aim: To study the relationship between laboratory markers and echocardiography (EchoCG) parameters in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) depending on the results of the diastolic stress test (DST).
Material and methods: The diagnostic algorithm provided by the current guidelines for the assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function was used to select patients. If there were not enough criteria to make a conclusion about increased LV filling pressure (FP) based on standard resting echocardiography data in patients with arterial hypertension and ischemic heart disease, DST was performed to detect HFpEF. 80 patients (50.0% men, mean age 66.3±5.4 years) were included. Group 1 consisted of 41 patients with a positive DST, and group 2 included 39 patients with a negative DST. Concentrations of the markers of immune inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, collagen homeostasis, and myocardial stress were measured.
Results: The DST showed significant differences in the E/e' ratio (15.1 [13.4; 15.9] in group 1 and 9.5 [7.9; 10.3] in group 2, respectively, p<0.001) and the diastolic functional reserve index (DFRI) (9.8 [6.8; 14.0] and 21.0 [13.0; 29.0], p < 0.001). Resting EchoCG revealed significant differences in the left atrial reservoir strain (LASr) (22.8 [19.6; 25.6]% and 28.0 [24.8; 30.2]%, p<0.001) and the left atrial stiffness index (LASI) (0.50 [0.40; 0.57] and 0.34 [0.27; 0.41], p<0.001). In patients with HFpEF, the laboratory parameters of collagen regulation had the greatest number of relationships. Correlations were found between the concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and other biomarkers, including interleukin-10 (IL-10) (r=0.311; p=0.048), myeloperoxidase (r=0.382; p=0.014), N-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (procollagen I N-terminal propeptide, PINP) (r=0.722; p<0.001) and type III (r=0.591; p<0.001), C-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (r=0.330; p=0.035), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases type 1 (r=0.410; p=0.008), EchoCG parameters, including left atrial volume index (LAVI) (r=0.414; p=0.007) and DFRI (r=0.354; p=0.025). In addition, correlations were found for the concentrations of PINP with IL-10 (r=0.401; p=0.009) and endothelin-1 (r= -0.337; p=0.031); PINP with LAVI (r=0.498; p=0.001) and DFRI (r=0.420; p=0.007).
Conclusion: Patients with HFpEF have a greater number of relationships between markers of collagen homeostasis disorders and EchoCG parameters characterizing an increase in LV FP.