title: Biomarkers in critical illness: have we made progress?
abstract: Biomarkers have emerged as exemplary key players in translational medicine. Many have been assessed for timely recognition, early treatment, and adequate follow-up for a variety of pathologies. Biomarker sensitivity has improved considerably over the last years but specificity remains poor, in particular when two "marker-sensitive" conditions overlap in one patient. Biomarker research holds an enormous potential for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in postoperative and critically ill patients who present varying degrees of inflammation, infection, and concomitant (sub)acute organ dysfunction or failure. Despite a remarkable progress in development and testing, biomarkers are not yet ready for routine use at the bedside.
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, VUB University, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Patrick M
authors: PM
authors: Honore
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, VUB University, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Jacobs
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, VUB University, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Inne
authors: I
authors: Hendrickx
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, VUB University, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Elisabeth
authors: E
authors: De Waele
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, VUB University, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Viola
authors: V
authors: Van Gorp
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Hopital Haut Leveque, University of Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Joannes-Boyau
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, VUB University, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Jouke
authors: J
authors: De Regt
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium.
authors: Willem
authors: W
authors: Boer
authors: Intensive Care Unit, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, VUB University, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Herbert D
authors: HD
authors: Spapen
keywords: ARDS; acute kidney injury; biomarkers; sepsis