Serum sST2 and Gal-3 Levels in Patients on Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Life Support

Abstract

Objectives Patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) supported by Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) have a high mortality. The role of biomarkers in prediction of survival of these patients has not been clearly examined. Soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) and Galactin-3 (Gal-3) are two well-acknowledged prognostic biomarkers in heart failure. Our objective was to analyze the levels of sST2 and Gal-3 in patients with cardiogenic shock supported by VA-ECMO. Methods Sixty five patients with CS supported by VA-ECMO were included in this study. Blood samples were collected prior to VA-ECMO support (t0) and 2 (t2) and 8 (t8) days after. sST2 and gal-3 where assayed by sandwich ELISA technique. Patients were grouped in those who recovered from CS (recovered group) and those received LVAD, heart transplant or died (not recovered group). Results In the recovered group the sST2 levels were statistically different at various time points, whereas in the not recovered group sST2 levels did not change over time. The absolute sST2 concentration was different between groups at t2 of VA-ECMO support. The gal-3 levels changed over time in both the recovered and not-recovered groups and was significantly different at t0-t2. Conclusion In patients with cardiogenic shock supported by VA-ECMO sST2 trend was significantly different between patients who recovered and those who did not. Also, sST2 levels at t2 were higher in the recovered group. Further studies are needed to assess the role of those two prognostic biomarkers in this population.