Investigating novel and conventional blood biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular disorders

Abstract

Nowadays biomarkers are widely used for diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of treatment in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Over the past two decades, a number of studies looking for various markers detectable in blood have been published. Biomarkers are circulating molecules that provide an insight into pathophysiological processes and aid to establish a diagnosis, refine the prognosis and guide the treatment 1 . In a broader sense, any characteristics that are measured as indicators of physiological or pathological biological processes or responses to an exposure or intervention can be listed in the group of biomarkers 2 . They can be used for diagnosis, therapy monitoring, measuring pharmacodynamic response, predictive or prognostic purposes, to ensure safety by indicating toxicity or for establishing susceptibility or risk for development of a disease 3 . A prognostic biomarker is used to identify the likelihood of a clinical event, disease recurrence, or progression in patients who have the disease or medical condition of interest. In addition, prognostic biomarkers are especially important for assessing the risk of a future adverse clinical event (e.g. death, poor neurological outcome), which information is crucial in the level of care decisions or estimating the length of stay in hospital and/or in intensive care units (ICU) 4 . A diagnostic biomarker is applied to detect or confirm the presence of a disease or condition of interest or to identify individuals with a subtype of the disease. These markers contribute to the critical determination of whether an individual has a particular medical condition for which treatment or any intervention may be indicated. Diagnostic biomarkers are often used as eligibility criteria for enrolment in a clinical trial studying a medical condition 2.