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Biomarkers in congenital heart disease: do natriuretic peptides hold the key?

Rafael Alonso-Gonzalez1, Konstantinos Dimopoulos

  • 1Adult Congenital Heart Disease Centre and Centre for Pulmonary Hypertension, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London, UK.

Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy
|June 12, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Congenital heart disease (CHD) patients often have residual issues and heart failure. This review explores neurohormonal activation and the role of natriuretic peptides as biomarkers in managing CHD.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Congenital Abnormalities

Background:

  • Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most prevalent congenital abnormality.
  • Advances in cardiovascular care have improved long-term prognosis for CHD patients.
  • Residual lesions and palliative interventions can lead to ventricular dysfunction and heart failure in CHD survivors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of neurohormonal activation in patients with CHD.
  • To assess the utility of natriuretic peptides as biomarkers in CHD.
  • To clarify the unclear role of biomarkers in the management of congenital heart disease.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on neurohormonal activation in CHD.
  • Analysis of studies investigating natriuretic peptide levels in CHD patients.
  • Synthesis of current evidence on biomarker utility in congenital cardiovascular conditions.

Main Results:

  • Neurohormonal activation is a significant factor in the pathophysiology of CHD.
  • Natriuretic peptides are established prognostic markers in acquired heart failure.
  • Evidence for natriuretic peptide utility in specific CHD clinical scenarios is emerging.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding neurohormonal activation is crucial for managing CHD.
  • Natriuretic peptide assessment may offer valuable prognostic information in select CHD populations.
  • Further research is needed to fully establish the role of biomarkers in congenital heart disease management.

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