Increased circulating levels of ouabain-like factor in patients with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction

Background: Much evidence has been accumulated that human plasma contains digitalis-like factor(s) with Na/K ATPase inhibitor properties. Increased concentrations of ouabain-like factor (OLF) have been reported in patients with moderate to severe hypertension and in patients with overt congestive heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Aim: The presence of circulating OLF has not been investigated in borderline to mild hypertension or in the early stage of dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods and Results: The study population consisted of 18 normal volunteers, 24 patients with borderline to mild hypertension, 47 patients with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction (ALVD) due to dilated cardiomyopathy and 26 patients with cardiac arrhythmias but normal left ventricular function. OLF values (pM ouabain equivalent) were assayed in extracted plasma, using a radioimmunoassay for ouabain. OLF was, respectively, 29.4 +/- 20.6 pM in normal controls, 39.1 +/- 23.8 pM in hypertensives, 35 +/- 18 pM in patients with cardiac arrhythmias, 52.3 +/- 25.8 pM in ALVD patients not treated with digoxin and 64.6 +/- 29.6 pM in ALVD patients treated with digoxin. Patients with ALVD, both treated and not treated with digoxin, had OLF significantly higher (P < 0.05) than all the other groups. In patients with ALVD no correlation between OLF and left ventricular ejection fraction was observed. In the hypertensive group no correlation between OLF and both diastolic and systolic pressure was found. Conclusion: Increased concentrations of OLF were observed in patients with left ventricular dysfunction due to dilated cardiomyopathy, before the occurrence of overt heart failure, suggesting that OLF may be an early marker of the disease. (C) 2001 European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.