Background: There is no satisfactory answer on the specific biomarker that might be used in differentiating heart failure with reduced EF (HFrEF), allowing for inadequacy of N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).
Objectives: We aim to evaluate the value of microRNA-208a in diagnosing HFrEF patients.
Methods: We included 120 HF patients and 60 healthy volunteers. Diagnostic values of NT-proBNP and miR-208a for HF patients versus controls and HFrEF versus HFpEF were described by area under curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity.
Results: HFrEF patients had significantly higher miR-208a level (p<0.001). As for diagnosing HFrEF patients, additional use of miR-208a and NT-proBNP yielded a significantly higher AUC than NT-proBNP alone (0.83, 95% CI 0.76-0.90 vs. 0.73, 95% CI 0.64-0.82) and the sensitivity and specificity were raised to 68.0% and 90.2%.
Conclusion: Use of miR-208a in combination with NT-proBNP may allow a more reliable method in diagnosing HFrEF patients.
Keywords: Biomarkers; Heart failure; MicroRNAs; Pro-brain natriuretic peptide.
Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.