Relationship of urocortin-2 with systolic and diastolic functions and coronary artery disease: an observational study

The urocortin (Ucn) hormones have many important roles in the cardiovascular system. Apart from systolic dysfunction (SD), there is no sufficient data on the relationship between serum Ucn-2 and diastolic dysfunction (DD), or coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated serum Ucn-2 levels in SD, DD, and CAD. In this observational cross-sectional study, study population was enrolled among outpatients who underwent coronary angiography with the pre-diagnosis of CAD. By examining the echocardiography 86 subjects were selected to study after coronary angiography. The subjects distributed over three groups to investigate the relationship between serum Ucn-2 and SD according to their ejection fraction (EF): subjects with moderate to severe SD (Group A, EF=33.6%), subjects with mild to moderate SD (Group B, EF=46.1%), and those without SD (Group C, EF=64.5%). Apart from these groups, the serum Ucn-2 levels were compared between subjects with and without DD (EF≥45%), and also compared between subjects with and without CAD (EF≥55%). Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Spearman correlation and multiple regression analyses tests. Serum Ucn-2 levels were decreased in Group A and were increased in Group B compared to Group C (9.4±3.4, 12.8±3.6 vs. 10.4±3.9 pg/mL, respectively, p=0.003). Unlike SD; there was no significant difference in serum Ucn-2 levels between subjects with and without DD (11.4±4.1 vs 11.7±3.9 pg/mL, p=0.8) or CAD (10.7±4.7 vs 10.2±3.2 pg/mL, p=0.7). Ucn-2 is elevated in mild to moderate SD. But, DD (impaired relaxation pattern), or CAD (without myocardial infarction) seems to have no effect on Ucn-2 hormone levels.