Venous plasma serotonin is not a proper biomarker for pulmonary arterial hypertension. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zeinali, Fatemeh; Hauso, Øyvind; Wiseth, Rune; Moufack, Marcel; Waldum, Helge L.
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian cardiovascular journal. Volume 48:Number 2(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 106
• Page End: 110
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 617.41
• DOI: 10.3109/14017431.2014.886335
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1401-7431

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Objectives.</italic> Serotonin (5-HT) most likely plays an important role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We aimed to test if venous plasma 5-HT is a potential biomarker of PAH. We also measured venous blood β-thromboglobulin (β-TG) in all participants to ensure that any increase in serotonin levels measured is due to platelet release. <italic>Design.</italic> Blood samples from patients (<italic>n</italic> = 9) with pulmonary arterial hypertension (Group 1 of the World Health Organization classification of pulmonary hypertension) as well as healthy volunteers (<italic>n</italic> = 9) were analyzed. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure venous platelet-poor plasma 5-HT and β-TG in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and in age-matched normal controls. <italic>Results.</italic> Venous platelet-free plasma 5-HT and β-TG were almost similar in patients with PAH and healthy controls with only a slight trend toward increased 5-HT levels in patients with PAH. No correlation was found between venous platelet-poor plasma 5-HT and disease severity. There was no association between venous plasma 5<bold>-</bold>HT and the mean pulmonary artery pressure. <italic>Conclusions.</italic> Our data suggest that 5-HT is not significantly elevated in venous platelet-free plasma in patients with PAH and may accordingly not be a useful biomarker in this condition.</p> </abstract>