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.