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Cardiac biomarkers in the critically ill

Corey E Ventetuolo1, Mitchell M Levy

  • 1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 622 West 168th Street, PH 8 East, Room 101, New York, NY 10032, USA.

Critical Care Clinics
|March 29, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac biomarkers like troponin aid critically ill patients. However, consensus is lacking on their use in noncardiac critical illness, despite their diagnostic and risk assessment potential.

Area of Science:

  • Critical care medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Biomarker research

Background:

  • Cardiac biomarkers are vital for diagnosing acute coronary syndromes and heart failure.
  • Their utility in critically ill patients with noncardiac conditions is under investigation.
  • Current guidelines lack consensus on measuring cardiac biomarkers in noncardiac critical illness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of cardiac biomarkers in critically ill patients.
  • To discuss ideal biomarker characteristics.
  • To focus on troponin, natriuretic peptides, and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein in critical illness.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of cardiac biomarkers in critical illness.
  • Discussion of ideal biomarker properties.
  • Focus on troponin, natriuretic peptides, and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein.

Main Results:

  • Cardiac biomarkers can aid diagnosis and risk stratification in critically ill patients.
  • Troponin, natriuretic peptides, and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein are key biomarkers in critical illness.
  • Further research is needed to establish clear guidelines for their use.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiac biomarkers have potential in noncardiac critical illness, but require further study.
  • Standardized protocols for biomarker measurement are needed.
  • Understanding biomarker roles can improve patient management in critical care settings.

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