title: Cardiac biomarkers in heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heart failure is a syndrome characterized by the inability of the heart to meet the body's circulatory demands. Heart failure is a growing health issue worldwide and the prevalence of heart failure is expected to rise as populations age. Therapies and interventions for a variety of cardiac conditions continue to advance and biomarkers will play an increasing role in patient management.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a review of the clinical research in blood based biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic guidance of heart failure. The focus of this review is biomarkers that are currently available for clinical measurement, and their current and potential for applications for managing heart failure patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The various biologic pathways and physiologic processes of heart failure biomarkers represent a host of different including inflammation, remodeling, strain, neurohormonal activation, metabolism and cardiac myocyte injury. The clinical characteristics and applications of each heart failure biomarker are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As populations age and effective treatments and interventions for coronary artery disease improve, heart failure will increase in incidence and prevalence. Blood biomarkers will play an increasing role in the early diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring and management of heart failure patients in the future.
authors: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, 22 S. Greene St, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: mliquori@umm.edu.
authors: Michael E
authors: ME
authors: Liquori
authors: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, 22 S. Greene St, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors: Robert H
authors: RH
authors: Christenson
authors: St. George's Hospital, Clinical Blood Sciences, Blackshaw Rd, London SW17 0QT, UK.
authors: Paul O
authors: PO
authors: Collinson
authors: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, 22 S. Greene St, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors: Christopher R
authors: CR
authors: Defilippi
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents
keywords: Biomarkers; Cardiac; Heart failure; Natriuretic peptide; Troponin