Incremental Prognostic Significance of the Elevated Levels of Pentraxin 3 in Patients With Heart Failure With Normal Left

Background-—Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a novel inflammatory marker produced by various cell types including those of the vasculature and the heart. The relationship between inflammatory markers and prognosis of patients with heart failure with normal ejection fraction (HFNEF) remains unknown. We investigated whether plasma PTX3 levels can predict future cardiovascular events in patients with HFNEF. Methods and Results-—Plasma PTX3, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and B-type natriuretic peptide levels were measured prospectively in 360 stable patients with HFNEF. The subsequent incidence of cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina pectoris, nonfatal ischemic stroke, hospitalization for heart failure decompensation, and coronary revascularization, was determined. During a mean 30-month follow-up, 106 patients experienced cardiovascular events. These events were more frequent in patients with high plasma PTX3 levels (>3.0 ng/mL) than low level