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Updated: May 12, 2026

Morphological and Functional Assessment of the Right Ventricle Using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
New and emerging biomarkers in left ventricular systolic dysfunction--insight into dilated cardiomyopathy
1Cardiovascular Section and Evans Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Insights
This review explores novel biomarkers for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), focusing on cellular and environmental factors. Understanding these heart failure biomarkers aids in predicting outcomes and guiding treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomarker Discovery
- Heart Failure Pathophysiology
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) involves impaired cardiac performance and ventricular dilation.
- Biomarkers offer insights into heart failure mechanisms, prognosis, and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel framework for conceptualizing heart failure biomarkers.
- To integrate the cardiomyocyte, microenvironment, and macroenvironment in DCM pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on heart failure biomarkers.
- Categorization of novel biomarkers based on cellular and environmental impact.
Main Results:
- Newer biomarkers reflect myocyte stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and energetics.
- Biomarkers also include neurohormonal and renal indicators of cardiac dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- A holistic approach integrating cellular and environmental factors enhances understanding of DCM.
- Biomarkers are crucial for elucidating DCM pathogenesis and guiding patient management.
Abstract:
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by deteriorating cardiac performance, impaired contraction and dilation of the left ventricle (or both ventricles). Blood markers--known as "biomarkers"--allow insight into underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms and biologic pathways while predicting outcomes and guiding heart failure management and/or therapies. In this review, we provide an alternative approach to conceptualize heart failure biomarkers: the cardiomyocyte, its surrounding microenvironment, and the macroenvironment, integrating these entities which may impact cellular processes involved in the pathogenesis and/or propagation of DCM. Newer biomarkers of left ventricular systolic dysfunction can be categorized under: (a) myocyte stress and stretch, (b) myocyte apoptosis, (c) cardiac interstitium, (d) inflammation, (e) oxidative stress, (f) cardiac energetics, (g) neurohormones, and (h) renal biomarkers. Biomarkers provide insight into the pathogenesis of DCM while predicting and potentially providing prognostic information in these patients with heart failure.
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