Circulating Connective Tissue Growth Factor Is Associated with Diastolic Dysfunction in Patients with Diastolic Heart Failure.

Background: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) are emerging biomarkers for tissue fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between circulating CTGF, TGF-beta 1 levels and cardiac diastolic dysfunction in patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF). Methods: Admitted subjects were screened for heart failure and those with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction <45% were excluded. Diastolic dysfunction was defined as functional abnormalities that exist during LV relaxation and filling by echocardiographic criteria. Totally 114 patients with DHF and 72 controls were enrolled. Plasma levels of CTGF, TGF-beta 1, and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) were determined. Results: The plasma CTGF and TGF-beta 1 levels increased significantly in patients with DHF. Circulating CTGF and TGF-beta 1 levels were correlated with echocardiographic parameter E/e' and diastolic dysfunction grading in DHF patients. In multivariate logistic analysis, CTGF was significantly associated with diastolic dysfunction (odds ratio: 1.027, p < 0.001). Plasma CTGF (AUC: 0.770 +/- 0.036, p < 0.001) and CTGF/BNP (AUC: 0.839 +/- 0.036, p < 0.001) showed good predictive power to the diagnosis of DHF. Conclusions: This finding suggested CTGF could be involved in the pathophysiology of diastolic heart failure and CTGF/BNP might have auxiliary diagnostic value on diastolic heart failure.