The Liver in Heart Failure: From Biomarkers to Clinical Risk

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Hepatology
• Multisystemic Disease Research

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) is a complex multisystemic disease with high mortality and morbidity.
• Right heart failure can lead to hepatic congestion, significantly impacting patient prognosis.
• The interplay between cardiac dysfunction and liver involvement in HF is a critical clinical concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the pathophysiology of the heart-liver interaction in heart failure patients.
• To explore the utility of biomarkers and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in managing hepatic congestion in HF.
• To review current understanding and future research directions for assessing liver involvement in HF.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on heart failure, hepatic congestion, and related biomarkers.
• Analysis of the pathophysiology linking cardiac dysfunction to liver disease.
• Exploration of non-invasive methods like liver stiffness measurement (LSM) for assessing liver congestion.

Main Results:

• Hepatic congestion due to right heart failure has significant prognostic implications.
• Cardiac biomarkers' role in assessing liver congestion in HF is under investigation.
• Prognostic scores incorporating liver biomarkers are emerging for HF patients.
• Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) shows potential as a non-invasive tool for evaluating liver congestion in HF.

Conclusions:

• The relationship between the heart and liver is crucial in heart failure management.
• Further research is needed to define the clinical value of biomarkers and LSM in assessing liver congestion in HF.
• Establishing the precise relationship between LSM and liver congestion biomarkers is essential for clinical application.