Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Dried Blood Spot Collection of Health Biomarkers to Maximize Participation in Population Studies
Published on: January 28, 2014
Integrating biomarkers: the new frontier?
1Department of Internal Medicine II-Cardiology, University of Ulm Medical Center, Ulm, Germany. wolfgang.koenig@uniklinik-ulm.de
Insights
Improving cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction requires new biomarkers. Inflammatory markers and subclinical disease indicators show promise but need further validation for clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Biomarker Discovery
- Atherosclerosis Research
Background:
- Current cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk scores have limitations in accurately stratifying patient risk.
- Atherosclerosis involves complex pathophysiological pathways, including inflammation, necessitating novel biomarkers.
- Circulating inflammatory biomarkers and markers of subclinical disease are being investigated to enhance CVD risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of additional biomarkers, including inflammatory markers and indicators of subclinical disease, to improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk stratification.
- To evaluate the role of systemic inflammatory biomarkers and non-invasive imaging techniques in predicting future CVD events.
- To assess the need for further research, including integrated approaches and omics technologies, to establish clinical utility.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on blood biomarkers (inflammatory, genetic) and imaging techniques (carotid intima-media thickness, coronary calcium) for CVD risk.
- Analysis of the association between elevated circulating inflammatory biomarker concentrations and future CVD events.
- Consideration of non-invasive imaging techniques for predicting CVD risk.
Main Results:
- Elevated concentrations of circulating inflammatory biomarkers are associated with future cardiovascular disease (CVD) events.
- Non-invasive imaging techniques like carotid intima-media thickness and coronary calcium scoring show predictive value for CVD.
- The clinical utility of most individual biomarkers and integrated approaches remains to be firmly established.
Conclusions:
- Additional biomarkers, particularly inflammatory markers and indicators of subclinical disease, are needed to improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk stratification beyond current scores.
- While promising, further research and validation, especially through serial measurements in large populations and integration of omics data, are required to establish the clinical usefulness of these novel markers and integrated strategies.
Abstract:
Risk stratification for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remains suboptimal even after the introduction of global risk assessment by various scores. This has prompted the search for additional biomarkers which might help to improve risk stratification. Basically, there are blood biomarkers representing various pathophysiological pathways of atherosclerosis, markers of subclinical disease, and potentially genetic markers. Since inflammatory processes accompany all stages of atherosclerosis, measurement of plasma/serum concentrations of circulating inflammatory biomarkers has received great attention. Such biomarkers can be measured systemically by sensitive assays and elevated concentrations in the circulation have been shown to be associated with future CVD events. Thus, they might add to the predictive value of the atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype to further improve CVD risk assessment. In addition, several non-invasive imaging techniques are available for which also a predictive value for CVD could be established, in particular measurement of the intima-media thickness of the carotid artery using high resolution ultrasound and measurements of coronary calcium by coronary computed tomography. However, for most of these biomarkers the clinical utility has not yet been firmly established. This applies even more to an integrated approach combining blood biomarkers and markers of subclinical disease. Thus, more data, preferably from serial measurements in large populations taking also into account new candidates from "omics" technology are needed to gain further insight in the potential clinical usefulness of an integrated approach.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...