Adrenomedullin Peptides and Precursor Levels in Relation to Haemodynamics and Prognosis After Heart Transplantation

AIMS: Heart failure (HF) is a frequent condition in the elderly, further complicated by associated pulmonary hypertension (PH), with impact on morbidity and mortality. Plasma proteins associated with cardiovascular disease, related to inflammation, neurohormonal changes, and myocyte stress, pathways recognized in the pathophysiology of HF, may provide information on disease severity and prognosis. We aimed to investigate such cardiovascular proteins and their relationship to haemodynamics before and 1 year after heart transplantation (HT), as well as their prognostic value in advanced HF with PH. METHODS AND RESULTS: = -0.52; P = 0.022). High levels of pre-operative plasma ADM were associated with worse event-free survival (HT or death), as well as survival compared with low ADM levels (log-rank P value = 0.023 and 0.0225, respectively). Univariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that ADM levels were associated with survival, hazard ratio (HR) 1.007 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.015, P = 0.049), and the association remained after adjusting for NT-proBNP, HR 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00-1.021, P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated plasma levels of ADM may be a marker of pressure/volume overload in HF patients with PH, as well as long-term prognosis after HT. In line with previous studies, our findings additionally confirm that ADM may be a marker of venous congestion in HF. Further studies are encouraged to establish a deeper understanding of the properties of ADM and its relationship with HF and PH, in order to potentially facilitate clinical management of HF and associated PH.