Heart failure biomarkers

J Cardiovasc Transl Res. 2013 Aug;6(4):471-84. doi: 10.1007/s12265-013-9465-0. Epub 2013 Apr 20.

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.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / analysis*
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis*
  • Heart Failure / metabolism
  • Heart Failure / mortality
  • Heart Failure / therapy
  • Humans
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • Patient Selection
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Biomarkers