Serum Uric Acid as an Indicator of Right Ventricular Dysfunction in LVAD Patients: A Preliminary Study

TL;DR

This study suggests that serum uric acid levels may indicate right ventricular dysfunction in patients with left ventricular assist devices.

Contribution

The study identifies serum uric acid as a potential marker for right ventricular dysfunction in LVAD patients.

Findings

Postoperative uric acid levels correlated with right ventricular dimension and TAPSE in LVAD patients.

Higher uric acid levels were associated with worse right ventricular function and higher NT-pro-BNP levels.

Serum uric acid may serve as a non-invasive indicator of right ventricular dysfunction in LVAD patients.

Abstract

(1) Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) represent mechanical support in end-stage congestive heart failure and are characterized by satisfactory long-term results. Uric acid (UA) represents one of the early heart failure markers whose usefulness was postulated in clinical practice. (2) Methods: Twenty-nine male patients with a median age of 58 (51–62) years were referred for LVAD implantation due to end-stage congestive heart failure in the mean (SD) New York Heart Association (NYHA) status class 3.3 (0.6). Preoperative and postoperative right ventricular (RV) characteristics were compared with serum uric acid concentration within 12 (8–15) months following the implantation. (3) Results: Significant correlations between postoperative uric acid concentration and right ventricular dimension (r = 0.604, p = 0.005), tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (r = −0.496, p = 0.022), left ventricular ejection fraction (r = −0.463, p = 0.046), and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) (r = 0.505, p = 0.041) were noted. (4) Conclusions: The analysis shows the association between the postoperative RV diameter and TAPSE results in LVAD patients and uric acid concentration. Serum uric acid can be regarded as a possible right ventricular dysfunction marker in LVAD patients.

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