Introduction. Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) is known to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, as well as major bleeding in patients (pts) with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Since GDF-15 is expressed by a wide array of cells in response to inflammation and myocardial stress, it is interesting to study which clinical and functional parameters are most associated with the level of GDF-15 in pts with non-valvular AF and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Aim. To study the relationship of GDF-15 level in blood serum with parameters of clinical and functional status and to determine independent predictors of GDF-15 level in pts with non-valvular AF.

Material and methods. 87 pts with non-valvular AF were studied, with an average age of 56.9±9.2 years. A general clinical examination, echocardiography and laboratory tests were performed, including fasting serum glucose (mmol/l),highly sensitive C-reactive protein (h/s CRP) (mg/l), creatinine level (mkmol/l) and subsequent calculation of glomerular filtration rate (ml/min/1.73m2), and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (pg/ml). The level of GDF15 (pg/ml) in blood serum was determined using an enzyme immunoassay with the help of the human GDF-15/MIC-1 ELISA analytical kit (BioVender, Czech Republic).

Results. The increase in the GDF-15 level was associated with ageing, ischemic heart disease, severity of arterial hypertension and heart failure, raising the risk of stroke, according to the scale CHA2DS2-VASc, disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism and obesity, increasing the levels h/s CRP and NT-proBNP, enlargement of the right and left atria, signs of diastolic left ventricular dysfunction and structural remodeling in the form of eccentric hypertrophy. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed 2 independent predictors of GDF-15 levels: age and fasting glucose.

Conclusion. GDF-15 appears as an integral biomarker of age-related metabolic disorders and structural and functional changes in the heart, which opens up prospects for further study of its prognostic significance in pts with non-valvular AF.

Purpose. To compare the effects of sacubitril/valsartan and candesartan on the occurrence and course of heart arrhythmias in the standard treatment of heart failure (HF) in patients with breast cancer receiving anthracycline antibiotics as part of adjuvant polychemotherapy.

Methods. The study involved 127 women aged 53 to 65 who received radical surgical and subsequent treatment for breast cancer in the MAMME clinic in Krasnodar in 2017-2020. Patients were prescribed adjuvant polychemotherapy, including anthracyclines, from 6 cycles. After randomization, standard HF therapy was carried out simultaneously with chemotherapy using sacubitril/valsartan (n=63) or candersartan (n=64). Initially, after the first, third and last courses of special cancer therapy, the heart rate was assessed using standard electrocardiography, 24-hour Holter monitoring of the electrocardiogram, transthoracic echocardiography, a 6-minute walk test were performed, and the level of the N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, the Minnesota Quality of Life Questionnaire for patients with chronic HF was completed.

Results. According to the 24-hour Holter monitoring of the electrocardiogram, the burden of ventricular premature contraction significantly decreased in the sacubitril/valsartan group (p=0.018), but not in candesartan group (p=0.326). The proportion of patients with persisting episodes of unstable ventricular tachycardia was also significantly reduced in patients randomized to take sacubitril/valsartan (p=0.027), but practically did not change in the candesartan group (p=0.785). Physical exercise tolerance, a 6-minute walk distance, and a quality of life indicator significantly improved only in the sacubitril/valsartan group. According to echocardiography, sacubitril/valsartan improved systolic function of the left ventricle, and candesartan only prevented its decline under the influence of the damaging effects of chemotherapy.

Conclusion. The efficacy and safety of treating patients who received cardiotoxic adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, a decrease in the burden of ventricular arrhythmias, noted in the sacubitril/valsartan group, were a consequence of the intensification of treatment for HF. The cardiotoxic effect of anthracyclines can be overcome thanks to the pronounced positive neurohumoral effects of modern pharmacotherapy of HF using sacubitril/valsartan, which leads to a limitation of myocardial remodeling.