Aim: A study was undertaken to estimate 7B2 immunoreactivity (7B2 – IR) in patients with congestive heart failure (CCF).
Methods: A total of 31 patients (26 male,S female) with stable chronic CCF were included in the study. The patients were aged 23 – 77 (53.3±12.4 [SO]) years. The causes of CCF were ischaemic (n=19) or dilated (n=12) cardiomyopathy. Patients were classified according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification on the basis of shortness of breath (NYHA I (n=5), NYHA II (n=l 0), NYHA III (n=ll), NYHA IV (n=5). All patients had systolic and diastolic blood pressure estimations and jugular vein pressure (NP) estimations (n=17) with reference to the sternal angle. Left ventricular ejection fraction % (LVEF %) was measured (n=24) using a radionucleotide ventriculographyy. Electrolytes, urea, creatinine and osmolality (n=17) were estimated. Plasma 7B2 -IR (n=31) was also estimated with a sensitive RIA. Plasma 7B2 – IR was measured in 8 (5 male, 3 female) age matched (48 – 57 [57.5±6.5) years subjects without CCF. Statistical significances were calculated using two tailed t – tests.
Results: Comparisons of the haemodynamic plasma variables in mild (NYHA 1+11) and severe (NYHA 1I1+IV) CCF showed no significant differences in LVEF%, diastolic blood pressure, or jugular venous pressure. However, systolic blood pressure was significantly lower and plasma creatinine significantly higher in severe CCF. In 8 healthy volunteers who had complained of chest pain, but showed no evidence of coronary pathology on angiography, 7B2 -IR was 30.2±1.4 pmol/l. Plasma 7B2 – IR in all patients with CCF was 49.5±3.8 pmol/I (n=31) (p<0.05) compared to controls.A representative plasma 7B2 chromatographic profile obtained from patients with CCF, showed that 7B2 eluted at the expected position.
Summary/Conclusions: The paneuroendocrine tumour marker 7B2 was found to be significantly increased in patients with CCF.