Simultaneous predictive value of NT-proBNP and CA-125 in patients newly diagnosed with advanced heart failure: preliminary results

INTRODUCTION New markers of cardiac events and new monitoring methods which can improve care of patients with advanced heart failure (HF) are still being looked for. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty-five patients below 75 years old (mean age: 60.34 ±9.54 years), hospitalized with the first manifestation of HF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV symptoms, not optimally treated before the study, were included. Blood samples for NT-proBNP and CA-125 were taken at baseline and during the 12-month follow-up period. The doses of β-adrenolytics and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors were titrated to maximal tolerated ones according to the guidelines in 1-year follow-up. The endpoint was established as overall death and time to death. RESULTS WORSE PROGNOSIS WAS OBSERVED IN GROUPS WITH: 1) NT-proBNP and CA-125 above medians (OR = 492.9, p = 0.006), 2) baseline higher NT-proBNP and CA-125 (HR = 0.016, p < 0.001), 3) increased or stable marker levels during the first 3 months after treatment implementation. CONCLUSIONS Elevated values of NT-proBNP and CA-125 are found as the independent death risk factors. The group with initial elevated NT-proBNP and CA-125 concentrations had a worse prognosis. Changes in NT-proBNP and CA-125 levels after treatment implementation predict unfavourable cardiovascular events with better CA-125 than NT-proBNP performance.