Circulating levels of a biomarker of collagen metabolism are associated with health-related quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure.

Purpose: Assessment of circulating levels of collagen-derived peptides has been proposed as a useful tool to monitor indirectly myocardial collagen metabolism in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. The potential link between circulating concentrations of collagen metabolism biomarkers and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has not been adequately evaluated. With the present study, we investigated the association between serum levels of collagen-derived peptides and HRQOL.

Independent and additive prognostic ability of serum carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen type-I in heart failure patients: a multi-marker approach with high-negative predictive value to rule out long-term adverse events.

Background: Altered myocardial extracellular matrix turnover has been proposed as a major determinant of myocardial remodelling. Carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen type-I (CITP) represents a collagen type-I degradation-derived serum peptide. In this study we examined the independent and additive prognostic value of serum concentrations of CITP compared with well-known mortality predictors such as the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.

Chronic heart failure patients with high collagen type I degradation marker levels benefit more with ACE-inhibitor therapy.

Not all patients respond to angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor equally. Genetic or other phenotypic variations might be useful in predicting the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs. With the present study we assessed the prognostic impact of ACE-inhibitor in chronic heart failure patients with different degrees of collagen metabolism as assessed by serum levels of a collagen type I degradation marker (CITP).

Resolution of symptoms and serum peptides of collagen type I turnover in acute heart failure patients.

Objectives: Myocardial collagen content as a fundamental component of extracellular matrix, is altered in pathological states including heart failure (HF). Serum peptides related to myocardial collagen synthesis and degregation can be measured and may be used as indices of myocardial collagen turnover. The present study was undertaken to assess the hypothesis that resolution of acute decompensation of chronic HF is associated with changes in serum peptides related to collagen synthesis and degregation.

Cholesterol composition of erythrocyte membranes and its association with clinical presentation of coronary artery disease.

Objectives: Presence of free cholesterol in atherosclerotic plaques is a major determinant of plaque instability. It is hypothesized that extravasated erythrocytes may contribute to free cholesterol accumulation in atherosclerotic plaques through their rich in cholesterol membrane. In this study we assessed whether cholesterol in erythrocyte membranes (CEMs), that is, free (FCEM) versus esterified (ECEM), differs in patients with chronic stable angina (CSA) compared with patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs).

Serum levels of collagen type-I degradation markers are associated with vascular stiffness in chronic heart failure patients.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) induces peripheral vasoconstriction, endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness by activation of various neurohormonal pathways. The abnormal collagen turnover observed in CHF may be attributed not only to myocardial remodelling, but also to vascular remodelling. However, the effect of collagen metabolism on progressive large artery stiffening in the setting of CHF is understudied.

Interleukin-8 is increased in the membrane of circulating erythrocytes in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Aims: Studies have shown that erythrocyte membranes are present within necrotic cores in atherosclerotic plaques, and that circulating erythrocytes in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have increased total cholesterol content (CEM). Interleukin-8 (IL-8) binds to erythrocytes and during intraplaque haemorrhage it is released into the plaque and thus may contribute to inflammatory cascade and atherosclerotic plaque instability. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that erythrocyte membrane IL-8 is elevated in patients with ACS compared with those with chronic stable angina (CSA).

Effect of statins on collagen type I degradation in patients with coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation.

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of statins on collagen type I degradation and C-reactive protein in patients with coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation. One hundred six patients with coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation were studied: 40 (36 men, mean age 72 +/- 8 years) treated with a statin and 66 (48 men, mean age 74 +/- 9 years) not treated with a statin. Serum concentrations of carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I, an index of collagen type I degradation, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured in all patients.

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion genotype on collagen type I synthesis and degradation in patients with atrial fibrillation and arterial hypertension.

Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess the impact of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphisms on circulating markers of collagen type I synthesis and degradation, and also to study the effect of therapy with ACE inhibitors on these markers in hypertensive patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Research Design And Methods: ACE I/D genotypes were assessed in 158 hypertensive patients (71 +/- 9 years; 72 male) with AF and 174 patients with arterial hypertension in sinus rhythm (SR) (71 +/- 9 years; 88 male). Serum concentrations of amino-terminal propeptide of pro-collagen type I (PINP) and of carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I (CITP), indices of collagen type I synthesis and degradation, respectively, were measured.

Circulating levels of collagen type I degradation marker depend on the type of atrial fibrillation.

Aims: To investigate the hypothesis that circulating levels of collagen type I degradation or synthesis markers are associated with the presence and pattern of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: We assessed the serum concentrations of amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (PINP) and of carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I (CITP), indexes of collagen type I synthesis and degradation, respectively, in 98 paroxysmal AF (PAF) patients (65 +/- 14 years, 62 men), in 80 persistent AF (PsAF) patients (73 +/- 8 years, 32 men), in 114 permanent AF (PmAF) patients (73 +/- 10 years, 54 men), and in 180 patients in sinus rhythm (SR) (66 +/- 13 years, 88 men) who represented a control group. Serum CITP levels were higher (P < 0.