A New Biomarker in Acute-Decompensated Heart Failure. Preliminary Study

Background. It is well known that the NT-proBNP in obese subjects is much lower than in normal weight subjects, making difficult to interpret it. In current practice the patients are frequently obese. In these conditions, a new biomarker, not influenced by weight, could be useful in acute-decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

Aim. To determine CA-125 changes in obese and normal weight patients with ADHF.

Method. The study group included 110 patients (mean age 72±10 years, 63% men) with ADHF caused by ischemic cardiomyopathy. The subjects were clinically, ecocardiographically and biologically (NT-proBNP, CA-125) evaluated.

Results. The mean BMI was 27.6±5.8 kg/m² and 35 (33%) subjects were obese. CA-125 at admission was 53±33 U/mL and decreased at discharge to 34±17 U/mL, without any difference between males and females.

There was a significant difference between NT-proBNP at admission in obese versus normoponderal patients (3207±1432 pg/mL versus 4457±2737 pg/mL (p=0.02)), which was maintained at discharge (1711±816 pg/mL versus 2674±1475 pg/mL (p=0.03)).

In the same time, the CA-125 did not show statistically significant differences between obese and normoponderal subjects at admission (56±29 U/mL versus 51±20 U/mL (p=0.63)) and discharge (36±20 U/mL versus 33±16 U/mL (p=0.56)).

Conclusions. CA-125 could be an useful biomarker in monitoring the obese patients with ADHF, better than NT-proBNP.