Circulating sST2 and prognosis of cardiovascular events in remission of multiple myeloma

Abstract

Aim. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of circulating sST2 for cumulative cardiovascular events in patients with multiple myeloma. Materials and methods. Ninety seven patients with complete or partial remission of multiple myeloma were enrolled in the study. Observation period was up to 1 year. Blood samples for biomarkers measurements were collected. ELISA method for measurements of circulating level of sST2 was used. Results. During observation period progression of multiple myeloma was proved in 25 patients, 5 persons were excluded for poor follow-up. 67 patients were included into statistical analysis. Thirty six cumulative clinical events occurred in 18 patients (26.9 %) within the follow-up, with their distribution being as follows: 2 deaths due to cardiovascular causes, 16 heart arrhythmias, 3 cardiac ischemic events, 1 stroke, 4 episodes of chronic heart failures and 10 hospital admissions due to cardiovascular events. 2 deaths were not related to cardiovascular pathology. Medians of levels of sST2 in free-events patients and patients with cardiovascular events were 24.17 ng/ml (95 % confidence interval (CI) = 12.87–27.48 ng/ml) and 47.57 ng/ml (95 % CI = 21.36–68.79 ng/ml) (Р < 0.01) respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis sST2 independently predicted cardiovascular events (odds ratio (OR) = 1.112; 95 % CI = 1.081–1.154; Р = 0.010) within 1 year of observation period. Conclusions. Among patients with confirmed multiple myeloma at remission increased level of circulating sST2 associates with increased cumulative cardiovascular events during 1 year.