# Fibronectin as a Marker of Myocardial Remodeling in Patients with Depression and Chronic Heart Failure

## TL;DR

This study found that fibronectin levels are higher in heart failure patients with depression, suggesting it may indicate heart remodeling and inflammation.

## Contribution

The study identifies fibronectin as a potential biomarker linking depression and myocardial remodeling in heart failure.

## Key findings

- Depressed heart failure patients had 1.24x higher fibronectin levels than non-depressed patients.
- Fibronectin correlated with neutrophils, inflammation, and lower heart function.
- Fibronectin levels reflect myocardial remodeling and inflammatory processes in depression-related heart failure.

## Abstract

Depression is a significant issue in chronic heart failure (HF), with a prevalence of about 20–40%, which is 4–5% higher than in the general population (Mbakwem A., et al., 2016).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate plasma fibronectin levels in patients with depression and chronic heart failure.

A total of 80 patients with HF II-III NYHA classes due to chronic coronary artery diseases (CAD) were observed. All patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 - 20 individuals without signs of depression, and Group 2 - 60 individuals with depression. The diagnosis of HF was confirmed based on ESC guidelines (2021). Depression was diagnosed using several questionnaires (Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton’s Depression Scale). Standard laboratory and instrumental tests were conducted. The plasma levels of fibronectin and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were identified using ELISA methods. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistica system software, version 12.0.

The average plasma fibronectin concentration in patients with depression and HF was 1.24 times higher than a similar indicator in HF patients without depression: (259.63±5.71) μg/ml versus (203.41±9.51) μg/ml (p<0.05). The conducted correlation analysis indicated a moderate positive correlation between the level of fibronectin and the number of neutrophils in peripheral blood (r=0.35; p<0.05), the level of fibronectin and the magnitude of endogenous intoxication according to the erythrocyte absorption ability test (r=0.44; p<0.01), the level of fibronectin and IL-1β concentration (r=0.39; p<0.05), and an inverse correlation with left ventricle ejection fraction (r=0.32; p<0.05).

Thus, the plasma fibronectin content in patients with depression and ischemic HF serves as a marker of the progression of myocardial remodeling processes and the intensity of the inflammatory process.

None Declared