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Circulating microparticles in cardiovascular disease: going on stage!
Mauricio Fernández1, Sebastián D Calligaris1
1a Departamento de Cardiología , Universidad del Desarrollo Clínica Alemana , Santiago , Chile.
Insights
Circulating microparticles show promise as novel biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). These indicators of vascular damage can supplement existing risk calculators, improving cardiovascular risk evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Biomarkers and diagnostics
- Cardiovascular research
- Vascular biology
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading global cause of mortality.
- Current risk calculators for CVDs have inherent uncertainties.
- Newer diagnostic methods focus on indicators of vascular or cardiac damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the discoveries supporting circulating microparticles as biomarkers for cardiovascular risk.
- To highlight the potential of microparticles as a complementary tool in CVD risk assessment.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search on Medline.
- Keywords included: cardiovascular diseases, microparticles, miRNAs, diagnosis, prognosis, biomarkers, microvesicles.
- Analysis of articles related to microparticles as CVD biomarkers and clinical studies on their preventive potential.
Main Results:
- Identified nine articles supporting the concept of microparticles as CVD biomarkers.
- Found 15 and 12 studies on the potential of microparticles in primary and secondary CVD prevention, respectively.
- Circulating microparticle levels correlate with cardiovascular damage.
Conclusions:
- Circulating microparticles are associated with cardiovascular damage in both asymptomatic and post-event patients.
- These microparticles are emerging as valuable diagnostic and predictive biomarkers for CVDs.
- Microparticles offer a promising complementary approach to current CVD risk evaluation strategies.
Abstract:
Context: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. In spite of the fact that treatments are based on risk calculators which in turn are based on population characteristics, it is well known that these methods have definite levels of uncertainty. Recently, more precise diagnostic or predictive methods have been developed based on indicators of vascular and/or cardiac damage in order to supplement this risk evaluation. Objective: In this review, we describe the main discoveries leading to the idea of using circulating microparticles as a promising and complementary tool in the evaluation of cardiovascular risk. Methods: A Medline search for the terms cardiovascular diseases, microparticles, miRNAs, diagnosis, prognosis, biomarkers and microvesicles was performed. Results: We found (i) nine articles, which were relevant to forming the idea of using microparticles as biomarkers in CVDs, and (ii) 15 and 12 experimental clinical studies which describe their potential in primary and secondary CVD prevention, respectively. Conclusions: The levels of circulating microparticles have been associated with cardiovascular damage in asymptomatic patients as well as in patients who suffered a cardiovascular event, becoming promising diagnostics or prediction biomarkers in recent years.
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