The relevance of biomarkers in acute heart failure

Abstract

Biomarkers may help to rapidly differentiate heart failure from noncardiac causes of acute dyspnea. Natriuretic peptides are especially useful for this purpose and should be measured in all patients presenting with acute onset dyspnea. Due to their excellent negative predictive value, anormal serum concentration of natriuretic peptides makes acute heart failure unlikely. Assays exist for B‑type natriuretic peptide (BNP), N‑terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and midregional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) with established cut-offs in the acute setting. Importantly, in patients treated with an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), NT-proBNP (or MR-proANP) should be used instead of BNP, since the latter is increased by ARNI treatment. Besides their established diagnostic value in heart failure patients, the measurement of natriuretic peptides provides prognostic information and may help in guiding therapy. Additionally, multiple other biomarkers reflect several pathophysiological processes involved in heart failure patients. Their diagnostic and prognostic impact in heart failure needs to be established.