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Scrutinizing the Biomarkers for the Neglected Chagas Disease: How Remarkable!
Rosa T Pinho1, Mariana C Waghabi2, Fabíola Cardillo3
1Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
Insights
Biomarkers for Chagas disease diagnosis and prognosis are emerging. Further validation is crucial for reliable risk evaluation and effective management of heart failure in patients.
Area of Science:
- * Parasitology and Tropical Medicine
- * Biomedical Diagnostics
- * Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- * Chagas disease diagnosis and prognosis rely on biomarkers, with population studies providing accessible data.
- * Identifying reliable indicators for heart failure can help prioritize therapeutic management for at-risk individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To review the current status and future trends of biomarkers for human Chagas disease.
- * To propose a novel classification system for Chagas disease biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- * Literature review of recent advancements in Chagas disease biomarker research.
- * Proposed classification of biomarkers into plasmatic, phenotypic, antigenic, genetic, and management-related categories.
Main Results:
- * Existing data highlight lessons learned and challenges in consistent biomarker application for risk evaluation.
- * A significant need exists for validating biomarkers, especially those specific to clinical forms of Chagas disease.
Conclusions:
- * Validation of Chagas disease biomarkers is essential, driven by the ongoing challenge of disease eradication.
- * Developing diverse biomarkers and testing them in preclinical and clinical trials is a strategic imperative.
Abstract:
Biomarkers or biosignature profiles have become accessible over time in population-based studies for Chagas disease. Thus, the identification of consistent and reliable indicators of the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with heart failure might facilitate the prioritization of therapeutic management to those with the highest chance of contracting this disease. The purpose of this paper is to review the recent state and the upcoming trends in biomarkers for human Chagas disease. As an emerging concept, we propose a classification of biomarkers based on plasmatic-, phenotype-, antigenic-, genetic-, and management-related candidates. The available data revisited here reveal the lessons learned thus far and the existing challenges that still lie ahead to enable biomarkers to be employed consistently in risk evaluation for this disease. There is a strong need for biomarker validation, particularly for biomarkers that are specific to the clinical forms of Chagas disease. The current failure to achieve the eradication of the transmission of this disease has produced determination to solve this validation issue. Finally, it would be strategic to develop a wide variety of biomarkers and to test them in both preclinical and clinical trials.
