Isoprostane-8 and GDF-15 as novel markers of post-PE syndrome: Relation with prothrombotic factors.

Abstract

Post-pulmonary embolism (PE) syndrome occurs in up to 50% of PE patients. The pathophysiology of this syndrome is obscure. We investigated whether enhanced oxidative stress and prothrombotic state may be involved in post-PE syndrome. We studied 101 normotensive noncancer PE patients (aged 56.5±13.9years) on admission, after 5-7days and after a 3-month anticoagulation, mostly with rivaroxaban. A marker of oxidative stress, 8-isoprostane, endogenous thrombin potential, fibrinolysis proteins, clot lysis time (CLT) and fibrin clot permeability (Ks ), along with PE biomarkers, were determined. Patients who developed the post-PE syndrome (n=31, 30.7%) had at baseline 77.6% higher N-terminal brain natriuretic propeptide and 46.8% higher growth differentiation factor 15, along with 14.1% longer CLT associated with 34.4% higher plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 as compared to subjects without post-PE syndrome (all P<.05). After 5-7days, only hypofibrinolysis was noted in post-PE syndrome patients. When measured at 3months, prolonged CLT and reduced Ks were observed in post-PE syndrome patients, accompanied by 23.8% higher growth differentiation factor 15 and 35.8% higher plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (all P<.05). 8-isoprostane levels ≥108pg/ml (odds ratio=4.36; 95% confidence interval 1.63-12.27) and growth differentiation factor 15≥1529pg/ml (odds ratio=3.89; 95% confidence interval 1.29-12.16) measured at 3months were associated with higher risk of developing post-PE syndrome. Enhanced oxidative stress and prothrombotic fibrin clot properties could be involved in the pathogenesis of the post-PE syndrome. Elevated growth differentiation factor 15 assessed at 3months might be a new biomarker of this syndrome.