| Heart failure is potentially life threatening with a natural history that is as lethal as some forms of colon cancer. Whilst
advances in modern treatment for HF are having significant impact on reducing age-adjusted mortality, there is a continuous increase in
the prevalence of HF due to the ever-swelling aging population as well as medical success in reducing or preventing coronary events and
thus prolongation of survival Heart failure appears to be not only the result of myocardial injury or hemodynamic overload as commonly
perceived, but it is also the result of an interplay among genetic, neurohormonal, inflammatory, and biochemical factors. These are
collectively referred to as biomarkers. Among those markers identified in patients with heart failure, a number appears to have direct
clinical relevance in aiding diagnosis, risk stratification, monitoring therapy, and treating to targets in order to improve clinical outcomes.
These include natriuretic peptides (e.g., Brain Natriuretic Peptide, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide, MR-pro-atrial natriuretic
peptide, Midregion prohormone adrenomedullin, chromogranin A, et al.), inflammatory markers (e.g., CRP, IL-6, ST2, et al.),
neurohormones (e.g., Adiponectin, Resistin, Leptin, aldosterone, et al.), and other biomarkers (e.g., troponin I/T, Galectin-3, Cystatin C,
GDF-15, MMP, et al.). Biomarkers, with their high specificity and sensitivity, play an important role in diagnosis, risk stratification and
prognosis of patients with HF. Within this context, we will review current research advancements in this field. |
