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Serotonin in Cardiovascular Disease: From Pathophysiological Insights to Clinical Utility
Aleyma Veliz Perez1, Mihaela Badea1,2, Elena Laura Gaman3
1Department of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 56 Nicolae Balcescu, 500019 Brasov, Romania.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) shows potential as a cardiovascular disease biomarker due to its role in platelet activation and vascular tone. However, further clinical validation is needed to establish its diagnostic and prognostic value.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Biomarker Discovery
- Neuropharmacology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of death, necessitating improved risk stratification and monitoring.
- Early identification of reliable biomarkers is crucial for managing CVD.
- Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is implicated in early cardiovascular pathophysiological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence on serotonin's role in cardiovascular physiology and pathology.
- To evaluate the potential utility of serotonin as a biomarker for cardiovascular disease.
- To identify limitations and future research directions for serotonin as a CVD biomarker.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of peer-reviewed literature.
- Literature search conducted across major scientific databases (MDPI, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Elsevier).
- Selection of studies focusing on serotonin's cardiovascular effects and biomarker potential.
Main Results:
- Serotonin has pleiotropic cardiovascular effects, including roles in platelet aggregation, vascular tone, and remodeling.
- Altered serotonin signaling is linked to endothelial dysfunction, atherogenesis, and thrombosis.
- Emerging evidence suggests serotonin's potential as a novel or adjunctive CVD biomarker.
Conclusions:
- Serotonin exhibits significant potential as a biomarker in cardiovascular disease.
- Clinical utility is currently limited by insufficient large-scale validation and lack of standardized measurement.
- Further prospective studies are required to establish diagnostic/prognostic value and clinical applicability.
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