The Role of Cardiac Biomarkers in Pregnancy

Emily S Lau1, Amy Sarma2

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.

Insights

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in pregnancy. This review explores cardiac biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring CVD in pregnant women, aiding risk assessment and management.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology and Obstetrics
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Biomarker Research

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of pregnancy-associated mortality.
  • The pregnant population is increasingly complex, necessitating advanced cardiovascular risk assessment.
  • Existing tools for monitoring CVD in pregnancy require enhancement, especially for symptomatic cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of novel and established cardiac biomarkers in diagnosing and managing CVD during pregnancy.
  • To discuss the behavior of various biomarkers in normal and complicated pregnancies.
  • To highlight the need for accessible tools for cardiovascular risk assessment in pregnant individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of normal pregnancy hemodynamics.
  • Analysis of cardiac biomarker behavior in normal and complicated pregnancies.
  • Synthesis of current research on diagnostic and monitoring tools for CVD in pregnancy.

Main Results:

  • Pregnancy involves significant hemodynamic changes that affect cardiovascular physiology.
  • Cardiac biomarkers exhibit distinct patterns in normal versus complicated pregnancies.
  • Emerging research supports the use of cardiac biomarkers for CVD assessment in pregnant individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiac biomarkers show promise for diagnosing and monitoring CVD in pregnancy.
  • Understanding biomarker behavior is crucial for managing cardiovascular risk in pregnant women.
  • Further research is needed to develop widely accessible tools for CVD management in pregnancy.
Abstract

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