Asymmetric dimethylarginine and M30 concentrations in heart failure

Abstract

Aim: Apoptosis has been implicated in the development of various cardiovascular diseases. Caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 (M30) is released during apoptotic cell death. The concentrations of M30 and the correlation with asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in heart failure (HF) are not known. The objectives of this study were to determine the possible association between M30 and ADMA and the potential use of M30 as an apoptotic marker in patients with HF. Material and Method: In this study M30 and ADMA concentrations were evaluated in 30 patients with heart failure and 30 healthy control subjects. Results: Increased M30 (p-0.01) and ADMA (p - 0.012) concentrations were found in the patients and a positive correlation was determined between ADMA and M30 in the patient group (p < 0.001, r- 0.627). No correlation was determined between M30, N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP). and ejection fraction. Discussion: These results demonstrate that M30 can be used as a novel apoptotic serum marker in patients with heart failure. The apoptotic cascade activated by increased ADMA concentrations can be considered to contribute to the molecular mechanism of HF.