Prognostic Values of Serum Tenascin-C in Patients with Ischaemic Heart Disease and Heart Failure

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic values of serum tenascin-C in patients with heart failure and ischaemic heart disease.MethodsSerum tenascin-C levels were assessed in 83 patients with heart failure and in 30 healthy subjects. The correlations between serum tenascin-C levels and left ventricular ejection fraction, serum B-type natriuretic peptide and procollagen III were analysed. Patients were followed up for 12 months, and the relations between the serum levels of tenascin-C and cardiac events (re-hospitalisation for worsening heart failure and mortality) were analysed.ResultsSerum tenascin-C levels in patients with heart failure were higher than in healthy volunteers (72.24 ± 11.02 vs. 22.78 ± 2.51 μg/L, p < 0.01). Serum tenascin-C levels in patients of NYHA class IV were higher than in patients with NYHA class II (88.56 ± 3.73 vs. 64.88 ± 3.15 μg/L, p < 0.01). The levels of tenascin-C were negatively correlated with the left ventricular ejection fraction (r = −0.636, p < 0.01), but were positively correlated with serum B-type natriuretic peptide (r = 0.553, p < 0.01) or procollagen III levels (r = 0.665, p < 0.01). An increased level of tenascin-C was an independent predictor for combined re-hospitalisation and mortality (OR 1.22, 95% CI: 0.86–2.14).ConclusionSerum tenascin-C levels were elevated in patients with heart failure. The levels of tenascin-C were associated with the severity of left ventricular dysfunction and 12-month major adverse cardiac events.