Heart Failure Biomarkers

Abstract

Biomarker testing in patients with heart failure (HF) is rapidly expanding. With high-quality research indicating its diagnostic and prognostic capabilities, biomarkers are excellent adjuncts to manage patients with HF. Their superiority lies mainly in their reflection of ongoing pathophysiological events at a cellular level. Monitoring biomarker levels has been shown to provide incremental information on the progression of disease, thus allowing to better tailor treatment and management. Several biomarkers have gained attention in the past decade and continuing research demonstrates the specificity of each biomarker to be used on its own or in combination to improve diagnostic accuracy. This review will provide an insight into the role of such biomarkers, which are widely studied in the setting of HF so as to delineate their role in diagnosing, prognosticating, and titrating HF therapy.

Association between cardiac, renal, and hepatic biomarkers and outcomes in patients with acute heart failure

“…However, most AHF biomarker outcome studies have focused on a single biomarker, whereas analysis of patterns for multiple biomarkers could provide the means for greater precision in diagnostics and management. Of particular importance, myocardial injury, worsening renal function, and hepatic impairment have been shown to be independent risk factors for poor patient outcomes [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Biomarkers of such vital organ damage, including high-sensitivity cardiac troponin, serum creatinine (SCr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), hemoglobin (Hb), sodium, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), uric acid, and total bilirubin may be useful in the identification of patients at high risk for mortality, subsequent hospital readmission, and increased hospital and intensive care unit length of stay (LOS) [10][11][12][13][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

Biomarkers in Heart Failure

“…3,4) In this article, the focus will be on the recent advances in cardiac and non-cardiac biomarkers of heart failure and their appropriate use in clinical practice.…”

“…1,2) Although a number of biomarkers have been developed, the ideal biomarkers should meet certain criteria: 1) non-invasive sample collection, 2) a high degree of sensitivity and specificity, 3) able to detect the disease at an early stage, 4) sensitivity high enough to reflect relevant changes in disease conditions, 5) a long halflife within the sample, 6) rapid measurement system responding to clinical needs, and 7) low cost. 3,4) In this article, the focus will be on the recent advances in cardiac and non-cardiac biomarkers of heart failure and their appropriate use in clinical practice.…”

Guidelines for Translational Research in Heart Failure

“…Expression of inflammation and fibrosis-related markers can also be quantified in this manner [77]. Additionally, ELISA can be used to detect BNP, troponin, cytokines, and hormones in the blood [78]. The analysis of proteomic and transcriptomic profiles in the affected heart will provide further information on protein and gene modifications [79,80].…”