Increased blood levels of transforming growth factor β in patients with aortic dilatation.

OBJECTIVES

Recent studies have shown that patients with syndromic thoracic aortic aneurysm, particularly patients with bicuspid aortic valve, have increased blood levels of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), indicating this molecule as a prognostic biomarker. However, it is not known whether TGF-β1 is also elevated in the blood of patients with tricuspid aortic valve and aortic dilatation.

METHODS

We analysed the plasma levels of TGF-β1 in 52 patients with tricuspid or bicuspid aortic valve and with normal or dilated ascending aorta who underwent cardiac surgery in our hospital.

RESULTS

TGF-β1 blood level was significantly increased two-fold in patients with tricuspid aortic valve and dilated aorta compared to patients with tricuspid aortic valve and normal aorta.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that TGF-β1 blood levels may serve as a prognostic biomarker for patients with syndromic and non-syndromic thoracic aortic aneurysm. Further studies with larger cohorts of patients should be performed to confirm these results.