Metabolites Useful in Finding Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure

Little is known about the mechanisms underlying heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). A study led by Wynn Hunter, a candidate for MD, MHSc degrees at Duke University School of Medicine looked at metabolomics profiles of patients with reduced ejection fraction, preserved ejection fraction, and normal controls.

To do that targeted, quantitative mass spectrometry-based measurements of 69 metabolites was performed on fasting plasma from 2,645 patients in the CATHGEN biorepository.

There were significant differences in the 3 groups, Hunter wrote in an abstract to be presented as at a poster session Saturday, March 14 at the American College of Cardiology meeting in San Diego, CA.

Those differences were seen in five PCA-derived factor levels after adjust for multiple comparisons at the level of 14 factors: long-chain dicarboxylacylcarnitines, long-chain acylcarnitines, ketone-related, and very long chain acylcarnitines. Mean levels of these factors were highest in the group with reduced ejection fraction, intermediate in the group with preserved ejection fraction, and lowest in the normal group.

The study suggests that these metabolites could be used as new biomarkers for HFpEF, and potentially be used to identify high-risk subtypes.