An update on the use and discovery of prognostic biomarkers in acute decompensated heart failure

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) remains a significant health care burden as evidenced by high readmission rates and mortality. Over the years, the care of patients with ADHF has been transformed by the use of biomarkers, specifically to aid in the diagnosis and prognosis. Patients with HF follow a variable course given the complex and heterogenous pathophysiological processes, thus it is imperative for clinicians to have tools to predict short and long-term outcomes in order to educate patients and optimize management.

Areas Covered: The natriuretic peptides, including B-type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, are considered the gold standard biomarkers. Yet, other emerging biomarkers such as suppression of tumerogenicity-2, cardiac troponin, galectin-2, mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin, copeptin, cystatin, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin have increasingly shown promise in evaluating prognosis in patients with ADHF. This article reviews the pathophysiology and utility of both established and emerging biomarkers for the prognostication of patients with ADHF.

Expert Opinion: As of 2019, the most validated biomarkers for use in decompensated heart failure include natriuretic peptides, high sensitivity troponin, and sST2. These biomarkers are involved in the underlying pathophysiology of disease and as such provide added information to that of exam, x-ray, and echocardiography.

KEYWORDS:

• Acute decompensated heart failure
• biomarkers
• prognosis

Article highlights

• In acute decompensated heart failure, biomarkers provide prognostic value beyond that of clinical exam or imaging alone.

• The three most validated prognostic biomarkers to date are the natriuretic peptides, sST2, and high sensitivity troponin.

• Galectin-2, mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin, copeptin, cystatin, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin may provide prognostic value when added on to other biomarker treatments.

Declaration of interest

AS Maisel reports receiving research grants from Roche and consulting for Critical Diagnostics. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

One of the reviewers on this paper has patents related to secretoneurin, ownership interest in Cardinor, and has received honoraria from Cardinor, SpinChip Diagnostics, Thermo Fisher BRAHMS, and Novartis. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no other relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript was not funded.