Serum beta2-microglobulin concentration as a novel marker to distinguish levels of risk in acute heart failure patients

Summary Background Recently, serum beta2-microglobulin, an endogenous marker for renal function, has been shown to be an independent predictor of mortality in older adults. However, the prognostic role of beta2-microglobulin in heart failure has not been elucidated. Methods We prospectively evaluated serum beta2-microglobulin and creatinine concentrations, creatinine-based renal parameters (estimated glomerular filtration rate and creatinine clearance), and echocardiographic data in 131 patients with acute heart failure and creatinine concentrations ≤3.0 mg/dL admitted to our hospitals. Results During 2.3 ± 1.3 years, 42 patients died of cardiovascular causes and 12 died of noncardiac causes. Cardiovascular events were observed in 63 patients: 53 were readmitted due to worsening heart failure, 5 readmitted for cerebral embolism, and 5 died from sudden cardiac death. According to multivariate stepwise Cox proportional hazard analysis, higher baseline serum beta2-microglobulin concentrations ( X 2  = 16, p X 2  = 11, p X 2  = 8, p X 2  = 6, p X 2  = 20, p X 2  = 11, p X 2  = 6, p X 2  = 5, p p p p Conclusions Higher baseline serum beta2-microglobulin concentration could be a promising risk marker in acute heart failure patients with creatinine ≤3.0 mg/dL.