Fluorescence lifetime of collagen degradation products in plasma of patients with left ventricular remodeling

Abstract

Background. The concentration of collagen degradation products in plasma may reflect the process of left ventricular remodeling in patients after acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to confirm that mean fluorescence lifetime of plasma is decreased in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Patients, materials and methods. The study group consisted of patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction admitted to the Department of Cardiology and Internal Medicine at the University Hospital in Bydgoszcz. The overall group comprised of 65 patients. From each patient 8 mL of blood was taken to obtain plasma that was used for further examination. The time-resolved spectrometer Life Spec II with the sub-nanosecond pulsed 360 nm EPLED^® diode was used in order to measure fluorescence lifetime of samples.

Results. Significant differences were observed in mean fluorescence lifetime of plasma between groups of patients divided according to brain natriuretic peptide levels. Statistical analysis showed that the increase in brain natriuretic peptide level is an independent factor resulting in the decrease in mean fluorescence lifetime.

Conclusions. It seems that plasma concentration of collagen degradation products is closely related to brain natriuretic peptide level. However, this experiment confirmed that plasma of patients with potential high probability of developing left ventricular remodeling is characterized by the decrease in mean fluorescence lifetime.