Circulating Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase-4 (TIMP-4) in Systemic Sclerosis Patients with Elevated Pulmonary Arterial Pressure

2008

TIMP-4 Levels in Systemic Sclerosis Patients with High Pulmonary Pressure

Sample size: 106 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Gialafos Elias J., Moyssakis Ioannis, Psaltopoulou Theodora, Papadopoulos Dimitrios P., Perea Despoina, Vlasis Kostantinos, Kostopoulos Charalampos, Votteas Vassilios, Sfikakis Petros P.

Primary Institution: Laikon General Hospital, University of Athens Medical School

Hypothesis

Aberrant TIMP-4 and/or MMP-9 activation may play a role in cardiovascular complications of systemic sclerosis.

Conclusion

Increased TIMP-4 serum levels are associated with elevated pulmonary artery pressure in systemic sclerosis patients.

Supporting Evidence

TIMP-4 levels were significantly raised in patients with systemic sclerosis compared to controls.
Patients with elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure had higher TIMP-4 levels.
No significant differences in TIMP-4 levels were noted between diffuse or limited skin involvement.
Age-adjusted partial correlations revealed a positive significant correlation between TIMP-4 levels and PASP.
BNP levels were increased in patients with elevated PASP.

Takeaway

This study found that patients with a disease called systemic sclerosis have higher levels of a protein called TIMP-4 when they also have high blood pressure in their lungs.