Key result
Failing DCM hearts show higher cathepsin B expression and greater apoptosis versus non-failing hearts.
Why the study?
The role of myocardial cathepsin B expression in failing versus non-failing human hearts was not well characterized.
Population
Tissue samples from transplanted left ventricles of 20 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and 5 non-failing donor hearts
Comparison
Failing hearts vs non-failing hearts
Design
Case-control study using immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blotting
Authors
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Cathepsin B may contribute to apoptosis in dilated cardiomyopathy; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before clinical relevance.
Case-Control (n=25)
Absolute Event Rate: 0.015% vs 0.002%
p-value: p=<0.01
Increased myocardial expression of cathepsin B in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy correlates with reduced ejection fraction and increased apoptosis, suggesting a role in heart failure progression.
Ge et al. (2006) conducted a case-control in Dilated cardiomyopathy (n=25). Dilated cardiomyopathy vs. Non-failing donor hearts was evaluated on Apoptotic index (p=<0.01). Failing hearts from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy showed significantly higher cathepsin B expression and a higher apoptotic index (0.015 vs 0.002, p<0.01) compared to non-failing hearts.
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