Francesca Cortese1,2, Marco Matteo Ciccone2, Michele Gesualdo3, Massimo Iacoviello4, Maria Frigerio5, Manlio Cipriani5, Cristina Giannattasio6, Alessandro Maloberti6, Paola Giordano7. 1. Department of Cardiology, Cardiology Unit, Giovanni Paolo II Hospital, viale salerno, Policoro, Matera, Italy. 2. Cardiovascular Disease Section, Department of Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. 3. Department of Cardiology, F. Perinei Hospital, Altamura, Italy. 4. Unit of Cardiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. 5. De Gasperis Cardio Center, Niguarda Hospital, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore, Milan, Italy. 6. Cardiac Rehabilitation, Cardiology 4, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy. 7. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Pediatric Section, University "A. Moro" of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Abstract
AIMS: To evaluate endothelial function in subjects with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), comparing them with subjects with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction on the list for heart transplant (HT) and with HT patients with a normal systolic cardiac function to identify any differences. METHODS: We enrolled 28 subjects with LVAD, 55 subjects with HT, and 42 subjects with heart failure on the transplant list. The subjects underwent a general physical examination, assessment of laboratory blood parameters, and assessment of endothelial function through flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of brachial artery. RESULTS: The three groups were homogeneous as regards age, gender, smoke abuse, C-reactive protein (CRP) and FMD parameters (P = ns). In LVAD group percentage of FMD change showed an inverse correlation with CRP (rho: -0.5, P: 0.003), a well-known marker of inflammation and tissue damage. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous flow related to LVAD seems to not worsen endothelial function. Endothelial function was not affected by cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes, obesity, and tobacco habit), by the functional status expressed by New York Heart Association class, by the left ventricular systolic function and by the presence or absence of ischaemic heart disease in all the populations analysed. CRP was the only factor able to influence percentage of FMD change in patient with LVAD, reinforcing the hypothesis that inflammation is the main determinant of endothelial function.
AIMS: To evaluate endothelial function in subjects with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), comparing them with subjects with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction on the list for heart transplant (HT) and with HT patients with a normal systolic cardiac function to identify any differences. METHODS: We enrolled 28 subjects with LVAD, 55 subjects with HT, and 42 subjects with heart failure on the transplant list. The subjects underwent a general physical examination, assessment of laboratory blood parameters, and assessment of endothelial function through flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of brachial artery. RESULTS: The three groups were homogeneous as regards age, gender, smoke abuse, C-reactive protein (CRP) and FMD parameters (P = ns). In LVAD group percentage of FMD change showed an inverse correlation with CRP (rho: -0.5, P: 0.003), a well-known marker of inflammation and tissue damage. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous flow related to LVAD seems to not worsen endothelial function. Endothelial function was not affected by cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes, obesity, and tobacco habit), by the functional status expressed by New York Heart Association class, by the left ventricular systolic function and by the presence or absence of ischaemic heart disease in all the populations analysed. CRP was the only factor able to influence percentage of FMD change in patient with LVAD, reinforcing the hypothesis that inflammation is the main determinant of endothelial function.
Authors: Taiyo Kuroda; Takuma Miyamoto; Chihiro Miyagi; Anthony R Polakowski; Christine R Flick; Barry D Kuban; George B Voros; Kimberly Such; Kiyotaka Fukamachi; Jamshid H Karimov Journal: Artif Organs Date: 2022-03-31 Impact factor: 2.663