Effects of endogenous serum neuregulin-1β on morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction

AbstractContext: Improved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) following administration of recombinant human Neuregulin-1β (NRG), epidermal growth factor (EGF) involved in cardiomyocyte repair/survival, has been observed in patients with systolic heart failure (HF).Methods: Serum NRG was measured by ELISA in 248 patients with NYHA class I–IV HF.Results: NRG exhibited a marginally significant effect on LVEF trajectory over 11 months (p = 0.07). There is no apparent level of NRG that predicts improved survival.Conclusions: There is a potential relationship between serum NRG and improved LVEF, indicating the need to investigate the utility of NRG in predicting HF outcomes, including LVEF maintenance.