title: Novel serum biomarkers in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains a difficult-to-treat condition with high mortality. Biomarkers are utilized to aid with diagnosis, prognostication and response to treatment. A clinically useful and PAH-specific single biomarker that is easy to measure remains elusive. This is in part due to the heterogeneity of PAH and its complex etiology. Brain natriuretic peptide and its N-terminal fragment are currently the most widely used serum markers; however, several novel serum biomarkers have been investigated recently. Taken individually, the evidence for each of these seems provisionally promising though currently weak overall. It is likely that a multibiomarker panel will be recommended in the future, with the optimal combination yet to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Scottish Pulmonary Vascular Unit, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Agamemnon Street, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McGlinchey
authors.forename: Martin K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: IP-10; PAH; biomarkers; brain natriuretic peptide; cytokines; growth factors; inflammation; osteoprotegerin; red cell distribution width; soluble ST2