Specific Features of Changes in the Serum Biomarker Profile in Cardiac Comorbidity: Arterial Hypertension and Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases have remained one of the leading causes of mortality for decades. The investigation of biomarkers such as N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), and proMMP1 in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and coronary heart disease (CHD), including cases of postinfarction cardiosclerosis (PIC), may offer new diagnostic approaches for assessing the severity of these pathological conditions and facilitating their early detection.

Objective. To examine the serum levels of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1), and proMMP1 in patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, and postinfarction cardiosclerosis.

Materials and Methods. The study involved 120 patients (60 males and 60 females, average age 53±10 years), who were assigned to three clinical groups: AH, CHD, and CHD with PIC. The control group included 20 clinically healthy volunteers (10 males and 10 females, average age 55±10 years). Serum levels of NAG and TIMP-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using test systems from Vector-Best (Russia). Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 10.0 software package.

Results. Elevated TIMP-1 levels were observed in patients with AH, CHD, and CHD with PIC, with varying degrees of statistical significance compared to the control group. Additionally, a significant increase in NAG levels was detected in patients with CHD and PIC.

Conclusions. The findings suggest a potential role of inflammatory and cytolytic biomarkers in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension. Their concentrations were shown to progressively increase with the advancement of cardiovascular complications, such as heart failure and coronary heart disease, including the development of cardiosclerotic changes.