%0 Journal Article
%T Biomarkers in transposition of the great arteries after arterial switch operation: A pilot trial with deep phenotyping.
%A Conings N
%A Santens B
%A De Meester P
%A Troost E
%A Claus P
%A Moons P
%A Bogaert J
%A Vermeersch P
%A Van De Bruaene A
%A Budts W
%J Int J Cardiol
%V 397
%N 0
%D 2024 Feb 15
%M 38101700
%F 4.039
%R 10.1016/j.ijcard.2023.131652
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a cyanotic congenital heart defect for which the arterial switch operation (ASO) is the preferred surgical repair. This study wanted to investigate whether a panel of biomarkers could identify morphologic as well as hemodynamic changes obtained by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Forty-four adult patients were included. Blood samples were collected to measure a broad range of biomarkers (galectin-3, ST2, GDF-15, PINP, ICTP, PIIINP, IGF-1, NT-proBNP, and hs-Tn). CMR was performed at rest and during exercise to assess cardiac function and morphology. Explorative statistics were performed between biomarker levels and CMR findings.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>All patients were asymptomatic. While galectin-3, GDF-15, and NT-proBNP levels were within normal ranges, increased ST2, PINP, PIIINP, and ICTP levels were found in 20.5%, 34.1%, 45.5%, and 27.3% of patients, respectively. Moreover, 3 and 2 patients, respectively, showed elevated IGF-1 and hs-Tn levels. Although the ejection fraction of both ventricles was within normal limits, impaired cardiac reserve was found in 20 and 25% of patients for left and right ventricle, respectively. CMR revealed no evidence of diffuse interstitial fibrosis, while 4 patients showed focal ischemic scarring. However, no significant associations between serum biomarkers and CMR data could be detected.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The results suggest that in asymptomatic ASO-repaired TGA patients serum level biomarkers are elevated and that this increase is not associated with morphological changes nor with a decreased cardiac reserve. Further study with larger sample sizes is required to draw conclusions with greater confidence.