A comprehensive approach for blood-derived biomarker assessment in pulmonary hypertension

6^th International Conference on Biomarkers & Clinical Research

August 31-September 02, 2015 Toronto, Canada

Vasile Foris1,2, Gabor Kovacs1,2, Philipp Douschan1,2, Horst Olschewski1,2, Andrea Olschewski1,3, Bahil Ghanim2, Walter Klepetko3 and Alexander Avian3

1Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Austria 2Medical University of Graz, Austria 3Medical University of Vienna, Austria

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Mol Biomark Diagn

Abstract :

Background: Apelin, TNF-like Weak Inducer of Apoptosis (TWEAK), and Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF15) may be suitable for screening and prognostic evaluation in Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). Patients & Methods: We performed a power analysis based on a pilot study in 10 IPAH patients, 10 CTEPH and 10 controls for apelin-12, -13, -17, -36, TWEAK and GDF-15, resulting in n=31 IPAH patients and 24 CTEPH patients needed for a prospective study assessing apelin-17 and GDF-15 as compared to matched controls to provide 80% power for detection of differences. Results: Apelin-17 was increased in IPAH and in CTEPH as compared to control (p<0.0001 CTRL vs. IPAH, p<0.001 CTRL vs. CTEPH). In addition, GDF-15 was elevated both in IPAH and in CTEPH as compared to control (p<0.0001 CTRL vs. IPAH, p<0.001 CTRL vs. CTEPH). GDF-15 was correlated with NT-proBNP in both IPAH and CTEPH. Area under the ROC curve for apelin-17 and GDF-15 were similar with an AUC of 0.86 and 0.83 respectively. A cut-off value of 1480 pg/mL for apelin-17, detected IPAH with a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 93%. A cut-off value of 1270 pg/ml for apelin-17, detected CTEPH with a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 87%. Conclusion: Among apelin isoforms, apelin-17 may be a promising biomarker for IPAH and CTEPH and performs similar to GDF- 15. Both biomarkers may be relevant for both IPAH and CTEPH.

Biography :

Vasile Foris obtained his MD from University of Medicine and Pharmacy ‘Iuliu Hatieganu’ Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He has been employed as a Junior Scientist at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research in Graz, Austria, where he also joined the PhD Program “Molecular Medicine” of the Medical University of Graz. His research interests focused mainly on circulating progenitor cells as well as on clinically relevant blood-derived biomarkers for pulmonary hypertension. He is elected as a Clinical Fellow at the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonology at the Medical University of Graz.

Email: vasile.foris@medunigraz.at