729 BIOMARKERS FOR EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF CARDIAC INVOLVEMENT IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by microvascular damage, immune system dysregulation and fibrosis of skin and internal organs. It is reported that asymptomatic involvement of the heart was found in 70% of SSc patients. The role of biomarkers in the early detection of fibrosis and vascular damage in SSc is not yet completely defined. Serum levels of sST2, Galectin 3, ANP, IL6 are a potential marker of cardiac involvement. In patients with chronic heart failure elevated levels of galectin-3 (>17.8 ng/ml) are a marker of worse prognosis. Moreover, a previous study reported a possible role of galectin-3 as an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in SSc. Material and Methods We enrolled 62 SSc patients (53 females, median age 52 years) who fulfilled inclusion criteria. 35 patients had limited cutaneous SSc and 27 diffuse cutaneous SSc. 30 Healthy Controls (HC) were also enrolled [20 females; median age 50 years]. All SSc patients had normal echocardiographic and cardiac MRI findings. Results In SSc patients, the median Galectin value was 16.7 ng/ml, significantly higher than HC median (10,7 ng/Ml). sST2 and IL-6 median value was 30 ng/mL and 12,3 pg/mL respectively, which resulted significantly higher than the median value of HC patient (21,55 ng/mL and 4,5 pg/mL respectively). Therefore, there was a significant difference in biomarkers levels in the SSc group compared with controls. Conclusion These data suggest that these biomarkers can help identify a subgroup of SSc patients, with normal echocardiographic and RMN findings, who are at risk of developing heart involvement. In fact, all patients are scheduled for yearly echocardiographic re-evaluation as ESC guidelines recommend for earlier detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc).