Role of biomarkers in guiding treatment with aldosterone-blocking agents

Abstract

Biomarkers are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure. Aldosterone is one of these biomarkers that appears to be integral part of the pathogenesis of heart failure. High plasma levels of aldosterone are found in ST-elevation myocardial infarction and are associated with an increased risk of mortality, post-MI death, resuscitated cardiac arrest, life threatening arrhythmias and heart failure. The present article discusses the implication of this for the treatment of patients with heart failure.