| 1. |
- Benz, Alexander P., et al.
(författare)
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Biomarker-Based Risk Prediction With the ABC-AF Scores in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Not Receiving Oral Anticoagulation
- 2021
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Ingår i: Circulation. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0009-7322 .- 1524-4539. ; 143:19, s. 1863-1873
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The novel ABC (Age, Biomarkers, Clinical History) scores outperform traditional risk scores for stroke, major bleeding, and death in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving oral anticoagulation. To refine their utility, the ABC-AF scores needed to be validated in patients not receiving oral anticoagulation.Methods: We measured plasma levels of the ABC biomarkers (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin-T, and growth-differentiation factor 15) to apply the previously developed ABC-AF scores in patients with AF receiving aspirin (n=3195) or aspirin and clopidogrel (n=1110) in 2 large clinical trials. Calibration was assessed by comparing estimated with observed 1-year risks. Cox regression models were used for recalibration. Discrimination was evaluated separately for the aspirin-only and the overall cohort (n=4305).Results: The ABC-AF-stroke score yielded a c-index of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.67-0.73) in both cohorts. The ABC-AF-bleeding score had a c-index of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.71-0.81) in the aspirin-only cohort and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.69-0.77) overall. Both scores were superior to risk scores recommended by current guidelines. The ABC-AF-death score yielded a c-index of 0.78 (95% CI, 0.76-0.80) overall. Calibrated in patients receiving oral anticoagulation, the ABC-AF-stroke score underestimated and the ABC-AF-bleeding score overestimated the risk of events in both cohorts. These scores were recalibrated for prediction of absolute event rates in the absence of oral anticoagulation.Conclusions: The biomarker-based ABC-AF scores showed better discrimination than traditional risk scores and were recalibrated for precise risk estimation in patients not receiving oral anticoagulation. They can now provide improved decision support on treatment of an individual patient with AF.
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| 2. |
- Benz, Alexander P., et al.
(författare)
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Stroke risk prediction in patients with atrial fibrillation with and without rheumatic heart disease
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cardiovascular Research. - : Oxford University Press. - 0008-6363 .- 1755-3245. ; 118:1, s. 295-304
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD), especially mitral stenosis, are assumed to be at high risk of stroke, irrespective of other factors. We aimed to re-evaluate stroke risk factors in a contemporary cohort of AF patients. Methods and results We analysed data of 15 400 AF patients presenting to an emergency department and who were enrolled in the global RE-LY AF registry, representing 47 countries from all inhabited continents. Follow-up occurred at 1 year after enrolment. A total of 1788 (11.6%) patients had RHD. These patients were younger (51.4 +/- 15.7 vs. 67.8 +/- 13.6 years), more likely to be female (66.2% vs. 44.7%) and had a lower mean CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score (2.1 +/- 1.7 vs. 3.7 +/- 2.2) as compared to patients without RHD (all P<0.001). Significant mitral stenosis (average mean transmitral gradient 11.5 +/- 6.5 mmHg) was the predominant valve lesion in those with RHD (59.6%). Patients with RHD had a higher baseline rate of anticoagulation use (60.4% vs. 45.2%, P<0.001). Unadjusted stroke rates at 1 year were 2.8% and 4.1% for patients with and without RHD, respectively. The performance of the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score was modest in both groups [stroke at 1 year, c-statistics 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60-0.78 and 0.63, 95% CI 0.61-0.66, respectively]. In the overall cohort, advanced age, female sex, prior stroke, tobacco use, and non-use of anticoagulation were predictors for stroke (all P<0.05). Mitral stenosis was not associated with stroke risk (adjusted odds ratio 1.07, 95% CI 0.67-1.72, P=0.764). Conclusion The performance of the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score was modest in AF patients both with and without RHD. In this cohort, moderate-to-severe mitral stenosis was not an independent risk factor for stroke.
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| 3. |
- Böhm, Michael, et al.
(författare)
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Cardiovascular outcomes, bleeding risk, and achieved blood pressure in patients on long-term anticoagulation with the thrombin antagonist dabigatran or warfarin : data from the RE-LY trial
- 2020
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 41:30, s. 2848-2859
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims A J-shaped association of cardiovascular events to achieved systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure was shown in high-risk patients. This association on oral anticoagulation is unknown. This analysis from RELY assessed the risks of death, stroke or systemic emboli, and bleeding according to mean achieved SBP and DBP in atrial fibrillation on oral anticoagulation. Methods RE-LY patients were followed for 2 years and recruited between 22 December 2005 until 15 December 2007. and results 18.113 patients were randomized in 951 centres in 54 countries and 18,107 patients with complete blood pressure (BP) data were analysed with a median follow-up of 2.0 years and a complete follow-up in 99.9%. The association between achieved mean SBP and DBP on all-cause death, stroke and systemic embolic events (SSE), major, and any bleeding were explored. On treatment, SBP >140 mmHg and <120 mmHg was associated with all-cause death compared with SBP 120-130 mmHg (reference). For SSE, risk was unchanged at SBP <110 mmHg but increased at 140-160 mmHg (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.81; 1.40-2.33) and SBP >160 mmHg (HR 3.35; 2.09-5.36). Major bleeding events were also increased at <110 mmHg and at 110 to <120 mmHg. Interestingly, there was no increased risk of major bleeding at SBP >130 mmHg. Similar patterns were observed for DBP with an increased risk at <70 mmHg (HR 1.55; 1.35-1.78) and >90 mmHg (HR 1.88; 1.43-2.46) for all-cause death compared to 70 to <80 mmHg (reference). Risk for any bleeding was increased at low DBP <70 mmHg (HR 1.46; 1.37-1.56) at DBP 80 to <90 mmHg (HR 1.13; 1.06-1.31) without increased risk at higher achieved DBP. Dabigatran 150 mg twice daily showed an advantage in all patients for all-cause death and SSE and there was an advantage for 110 mg dabigatran twice daily for major bleeding and any bleeding irrespective of SBP or DBP achieved. Similar results were obtained for baseline BP, time-updated BP, and BP as time-varying covariate. Conclusion Low achieved SBP associates with increased risk of death, SSE, and bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation on oral anticoagulation. Major bleeding events did not occur at higher BP. Low BP might identify high-risk patients not only for death but also for high bleeding risks.
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| 4. |
- Hijazi, Ziad, et al.
(författare)
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Bone morphogenetic protein 10 : a novel risk marker of ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation
- 2022
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 44:3, s. 208-218
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: Biomarkers specifically related to atrial tissue may increase the understanding of the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) and further improve risk prediction in this setting. Bone morphogenetic protein 10 (BMP10) is a protein expressed in the atrial myocardium. We evaluated the association between BMP10 and the risk of ischaemic stroke and other cardiovascular events in large cohorts of patients with AF, treated with and without oral anticoagulation (OAC).METHODS AND RESULTS: BMP10 was measured in plasma samples collected at randomisation in patients with AF without OAC in the ACTIVE A and AVERROES trials (n = 2974), and with OAC in the ARISTOTLE trial (n = 13 079). BMP10 was analysed with a prototype Elecsys immunoassay. Associations with outcomes were evaluated by Cox-regression models adjusted for clinical characteristics, kidney function, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Median concentrations of BMP10 were 2.47 and 2.44 ng/mL, in the non-OAC and OAC cohort, respectively. Increasing BMP10 was associated with lower body mass index, older age, female sex, kidney dysfunction, and AF rhythm. BMP10 was consistently associated with ischaemic stroke. In the non-OAC cohort, BMP10 increased the concordance index of the multivariable model from 0.713 to 0.733 (P = 0.004) and in the OAC cohort from 0.673 to 0.694 (P < 0.001). Additionally, BMP10 maintained a significant prognostic value after additionally adjusting for NT-proBNP. BMP10 was not independently associated with bleeding or with death.CONCLUSION: The novel atrial biomarker BMP10 was independently associated with ischaemic stroke in patients with AF irrespective of OAC treatment. BMP10 seems to be more specifically related to the risk of ischaemic stroke in AF.ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY: In this study, BMP10 may be a novel specific biomarker of ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, irrespective of oral anticoagulation.
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| 5. |
- Hijazi, Ziad, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of the Age, Biomarkers, and Clinical History-Bleeding Risk Score in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation With Combined Aspirin and Anticoagulation Therapy Enrolled in the ARISTOTLE and RE-LY Trials
- 2020
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Ingår i: JAMA Network Open. - : AMER MEDICAL ASSOC. - 2574-3805. ; 3:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- IMPORTANCE Most patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary artery disease have indications for preventing stroke with oral anticoagulation therapy and preventingmyocardial infarction and stent thrombosis with platelet inhibition. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the recently developed ABC (age, biomarkers, and clinical history)bleeding risk score might be useful to identify patients with AF with different risks of bleeding during concomitant aspirin and anticoagulation therapy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The biomarkers in the ABC-bleeding risk score (growth differentiation factor 15, hemoglobin, and troponin) were measured in blood samples collected at randomization between 2006 and 2010 in the ARISTOTLE (Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation) trial and between 2005 and 2009 in the RE-LY (Randomized Evaluation of Long-term Anticoagulation Therapy) trial, both of which were multinational randomized clinical trials. The trials were reported 2011 and 2009, respectively. A total of 24 349 patients with AF (14 980 patients from the ARISTOTLE trial and 9369 patients from the RE-LY trial) were analyzed in the present cohort study. The median (interquartile range) length of follow-up was 1.8 (1.3-2.3) years in the ARISTOTLE cohort and 2.0 (1.6-2.3) years in the RE-LY cohort. Data analysis was performed from February 2018 to June 2019. EXPOSURES Concomitant aspirin treatment during study follow-up. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Time to first occurrence of a major bleeding was determined according to International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis definition. Hazard ratios were estimated with Cox models adjusted for ABC-bleeding risk score and randomized treatment. RESULTS The median (interquartile range) age was 70 (63-76) years in the ARISTOTLE cohort and 72 (67-77) years in the RE-LY cohort (5238 patients [35.6%] in the ARISTOTLE cohort and 3086 patients [36.4%] in the RE-LY cohort were women). The total number of patients with a first major bleeding event was 651 (207 with aspirin and 444 without) in ARISTOTLE and 463 (238 with aspirin and 225 without) in RE-LY. For both cohorts, in those with a lowABC-bleeding risk score, the absolute bleeding rate was low even with concomitant aspirin treatment, whereas in those with a higher ABC-bleeding risk score, the rate of bleedingwas higher with concomitant aspirin compared with oral anticoagulation alone (ARISTOTLE, hazard ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.40-1.95; P <.001; RE-LY, hazard ratio, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.42-2.04; P <.001). Thus, a low annual ABC-bleeding risk (eg, 0.5% without aspirin use) would with concomitant aspirin result in an annual rate of 0.8%, and a high estimated ABC-bleeding risk (eg, 3.0%) would result in a substantially higher rate of 5.0%. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest that the ABC-bleeding risk score identifies patients with different risks of bleeding when combining aspirin and oral anticoagulation. The ABC-bleeding risk score may, therefore, be a useful tool for decision support concerning intensity and duration of combination antithrombotic treatment in patients with AF and coronary artery disease.
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| 6. |
- Hijazi, Ziad, et al.
(författare)
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Screening of Multiple Biomarkers Associated With Ischemic Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of the American Heart Association. - 2047-9980 .- 2047-9980. ; 9:24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundTo explore the pathophysiological features of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), we evaluated the association between 268 plasma proteins and subsequent ischemic stroke in 2 large AF cohorts receiving oral anticoagulation.Methods and ResultsA case‐cohort sample of patients with AF from the ARISTOTLE (Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation) trial, including 282 cases with ischemic stroke or systemic embolism and a random sample of 4124 without these events, during 1.9 years of follow‐up was used for identification. Validation was provided by a similar case‐cohort sample of patients with AF from the RE‐LY (Randomized Evaluation of Long‐Term Anticoagulation Therapy) trial, including 149 cases with ischemic stroke/systemic embolism and a random sample of 1062 without these events. In plasma obtained before randomization, 268 unique biomarkers were measured with OLINK proximity extension assay panels (CVD II, CVD III, and Inflammation) and conventional immunoassays. The association between biomarkers and outcomes was evaluated by random survival forest and adjusted Cox regression. According to random survival forest or Cox regression analyses, the biomarkers most strongly and consistently associated with ischemic stroke/systemic embolism were matrix metalloproteinase‐9, NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide), osteopontin, sortilin, soluble suppression of tumorigenesis 2, and trefoil factor‐3. The corresponding hazard ratios (95% CIs) for an interquartile difference were as follows: 1.18 (1.00–1.38), 1.55 (1.28–1.88), 1.28 (1.07–1.53), 1.19 (1.02–1.39), 1.23 (1.05–1.45), and 1.19 (0.97–1.45), respectively.ConclusionsIn patients with AF, of 268 unique biomarkers, the 6 biomarkers most strongly associated with subsequent ischemic stroke/systemic embolism represent fibrosis/remodeling (matrix metalloproteinase‐9 and soluble suppression of tumorigenesis 2), cardiac dysfunction (NT‐proBNP), vascular calcification (osteopontin), metabolism (sortilin), and mucosal integrity/ischemia (trefoil factor‐3).RegistrationURL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique Identifiers: NCT00412984 and NCT00262600.
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| 7. |
- Millenaar, Dominic, et al.
(författare)
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Cardiovascular Outcomes According to Polypharmacy and Drug Adherence in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation on Long-Term Anticoagulation (from the RE-LY Trial)
- 2021
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : EXCERPTA MEDICA INC-ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 149, s. 27-35
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increases with age, along with comorbidities and, thus, polypharmacy. Non-adherence is associated with polypharmacy. This study aimed to identify patients at risk for cardiovascular events according to their pharmacological treatment intensity and adherence. Patients (n = 18,113) with a mean age of 71.5 +/- 8.7 years, at high cardiovascular risk were followed between December 2005 until December 2007 for a median time of 2 years. The association between polypharmacy and adherence and their impact on cardiovascular and bleeding events were explored. Adherence was defined as a study drug intake of >= 80%. Patients with more co-medications had a higher body mass index, higher prevalence of hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and diabetes mellitus (all p < 0.0001) compared to <= 4 or 5-8 co-medications, but no differences in history of stroke (p = 0.68) or transient ischemic attack (p = 0.065). Across all treatments, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) increased in patients with more co-medications (>= 9 vs <= 4) for all-cause death (HR 1.30; 1.06-1.59), major bleeding (HR 1.65; 1.33-2.05), and all bleeding events (HR 1.44; 1.31-1.59). Yearly event rates were higher in non-adherent than adherent patients for stroke and systemic embolism (SSE) (3.14 vs 1.00), all-cause death (7.76 vs 2.66), major bleeding (6.21 vs 2.65), and all bleeding (28.71 vs 19.05; all p < 0.0001). After an event the patients were more likely to become non-adherent (adherence after SSE 30.3%, after major bleeding 33.4%, after all bleeding 66.7%; all p < 0.0001). The treatment effects were consistent to the overall group in the different polypharmacy groups. In conclusion, polypharmacy and non-adherence are risk indicators for increased adverse cardiovascular and bleeding events. Dabigatran is safe to use across the full spectrum of AF patients, independent of the number of co-medications and adherence. Patients with co-medications and comorbidities require special attention and encouragement to adhere to oral anticoagulation. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 8. |
- Pol, Tymon, et al.
(författare)
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Using multimarker screening to identify biomarkers associated with cardiovascular death in patients with atrial fibrillation.
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cardiovascular Research. - : Oxford University Press. - 0008-6363 .- 1755-3245. ; 118:9, s. 2112-2123
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with higher mortality. Biomarkers may improve the understanding of key pathophysiologic processes in AF that lead to death. Using a new multiplex analytic technique, we explored the association between 268 biomarkers and cardiovascular (CV) death in anticoagulated patients with AF.METHODS AND RESULTS: A case-cohort design with 1.8 -1.9 years follow-up. The identification cohort included 517 cases and 4057 randomly selected patients from ARISTOTLE. The validation cohort included 277 cases and 1042 randomly selected controls from RE-LY. Plasma collected at randomization was analyzed with conventional immunoassays and the OLINK proximity extension assay-panels; CVDII, CVDIII, and Inflammation. Association between biomarkers and CV-death was evaluated using Random Survival Forest, Boruta and adjusted Cox-regression analyses.The biomarkers most strongly and consistently associated with CV-death were (hazard ratio for inter-quartile comparison [95% CI]): N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP; 1.63 [1.37-1.93]), cardiac troponin T (cTnT-hs; 1.60[1.35-1.88]), interleukin-6 (IL-6; 1.29[1.13-1.47]), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15; 1.30[1.10-1.53]) fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23; 1.21[1.10-1.33]), urokinase receptor (uPAR; 1.38[1.16-1.64]), trefoil factor 3 (TFF3; 1.27[1.10-1.46]), tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1; 1.21[1.01-1.45]), TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 2 (TRAILR2; 1.18[1.04-1.34]) and cathepsin L1 (CTSL1; 1.22[1.07-1.39]).CONCLUSION: In this comprehensive screening of 268 biomarkers in anticoagulated patients with AF the underlying mechanisms most strongly associated with CV-death were cardiorenal dysfunction (NT-proBNP, cTnT-hs, CTSL1, TFF3), oxidative stress (GDF-15), inflammation (IL-6, GDF-15), calcium balance, vascular and renal dysfunction (FGF-23), fibrinolysis (suPAR) and apoptosis (TNFR1, TRAILR2). These findings provide novel insights into pathophysiologic aspects associated with CV-death in AF.TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: In patients with AF there is an unmet need for better understanding of the pathophysiological processes involved with CV-death. Using a targeted proteomic approach, 10 biomarkers were identified as having a strong association with CV-death. The identified biomarkers reflect several biological pathways involved with CV-death in AF. The present study provides valuable insights into important processes involved with CV-death in patients with AF and may facilitate the identification of important risk factors for death, thus allowing for earlier intervention and possibly even for targeted therapy to reduce AF-related mortality.CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT00412984 and NCT00262600.
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| 9. |
- Siegbahn, Agneta, 1947-, et al.
(författare)
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Multiplex protein screening of biomarkers associated with major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with oral anticoagulation.
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1538-7933 .- 1538-7836. ; 19:11, s. 2726-2737
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Oral anticoagulants (OAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) prevent thromboembolic events, but are associated with significant risk of bleeding.OBJECTIVES: To explore associations between a wide range of biomarkers and bleeding risk in patients with AF on OAC.METHOD: Biomarkers were analyzed in a random sample of 4200 patients, 204 cases with major bleedings, from ARISTOTLE. The replication cohort included 344 cases with major bleeding and 1024 random controls from RE-LY. Plasma samples obtained at randomization were analyzed by the Olink Proximity Extension Assay cardiovascular and inflammation panels and conventional immunoassays. The associations between biomarker levels and major bleeding over 1 to 3 years of follow-up were evaluated by random survival forest/Boruta analyses and Cox regression analyses to assess linear associations and hazard ratios for identified biomarkers.RESULTS: Out of 268 proteins, nine biomarkers were independently associated with bleeding in both cohorts. In the replication cohort the linear hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) per interquartile range were for these biomarkers: TNF-R1 1.748 (1.456, 2.098), GDF-15 1.653 (1.377, 1.985), EphB4 1.575 (1.320, 1.880), suPAR 1.548 (1.294, 1.851), OPN 1.476 (1.240, 1.757), OPG 1.397 (1.156, 1.688), TNF-R2 1.360 (1.144,1.616), cTnT-hs 1.232 (1.067, 1.423), and TRAIL-R2 1.202 (1.069, 1.351).CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AF on OAC, GDF-15, cTnT-hs, and seven novel biomarkers were independently associated with major bleedings and reflect pathophysiologic processes of inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, vascular calcification, coagulation, and fibrinolysis. Investigations of the utility of these markers to refine risk stratification and guide the management of patients at high risk of bleeding are warranted.
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| 10. |
- Wallentin, Lars, 1943-, et al.
(författare)
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Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) levels in relation to risk factors for COVID-19 in two large cohorts of patients with atrial fibrillation.
- 2020
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford Academic. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 41:41, s. 4037-4046
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: The global COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus entering human cells using angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a cell surface receptor. ACE2 is shed to the circulation, and a higher plasma level of soluble ACE2 (sACE2) might reflect a higher cellular expression of ACE2. The present study explored the associations between sACE2 and clinical factors, cardiovascular biomarkers, and genetic variability.METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma and DNA samples were obtained from two international cohorts of elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (n = 3999 and n = 1088). The sACE2 protein level was measured by the Olink Proteomics® Multiplex CVD II96 × 96 panel. Levels of the biomarkers high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, D-dimer, and cystatin-C were determined by immunoassays. Genome-wide association studies were performed by Illumina chips. Higher levels of sACE2 were statistically significantly associated with male sex, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and older age. The sACE2 level was most strongly associated with the levels of GDF-15, NT-proBNP, and hs-cTnT. When adjusting for these biomarkers, only male sex remained associated with sACE2. We found no statistically significant genetic regulation of the sACE2 level.CONCLUSIONS: Male sex and clinical or biomarker indicators of biological ageing, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes are associated with higher sACE2 levels. The levels of GDF-15 and NT-proBNP, which are associated both with the sACE2 level and a higher risk for mortality and cardiovascular disease, might contribute to better identification of risk for severe COVID-19 infection.
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