Factors associated with elevated plasma phenylalanine in patients with heart failure

Chi Wen Cheng, Min Hui Liu, Hsiang-Yu Tang, Mei Ling Cheng, Chao Hung Wang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Elevated phenylalanine has been observed in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) and in community cohorts at risk of HF, and has been shown to have prognostic value. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with elevated phenylalanine in HF patients. Mass spectrometry was performed on blood from 669 participants, including 75 normal controls and 594 HF patients (stages A, B, and C). We measured phenylalanine and associated degradation products on the catecholamine pathway, C-reactive protein, valerylcarnitine, methionine sulfoxide, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and B-type natriuretic peptide. Longitudinal analysis was conducted on 61 stage C HF patients who had recovered systolic function after 1 year. Phenylalanine and tyrosine levels increased from normal through stages A, B and C. Cross-sectional analysis in patients at stage C showed that phenylalanine levels were related to total bilirubin, eGFR, valerylcarnitine, methionine sulfoxide, C-reactive protein, and male gender. Longitudinal analysis in the patients at stage C with recovered systolic function after 1 year revealed that phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine sulfoxide, total bilirubin, and C-reactive protein levels significantly decreased from baseline to 12 months. Based on a generalized estimating equations analysis model with time interaction considered, the only significant factor associated with changes in phenylalanine was changes in C-reactive protein concentrations from baseline to 12 months [B (coefficient) = 0.81, P < 0.001] after adjusting for methionine sulfoxide and total bilirubin levels. In conclusion, phenylalanine levels respond sensitively to HF improvement. Our findings suggest that inflammation plays a pivotal role in the elevation of phenylalanine levels in patients with HF.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)149-157
Number of pages9
JournalAmino Acids
Volume53
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 02 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, AT part of Springer Nature.

Keywords

  • Heart failure
  • Metabolism
  • Phenylalanine
  • Prognosis
  • Tyrosine

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