Biomarkers in medicine
-
The increased incidence of sepsis, a systemic response to infection that occurs in some patients, has stimulated interest in identifying infected patients who are at risk and intervening early. When this condition progresses to severe sepsis (characterized by organ dysfunction), mortality is high. Hospitals that have implemented recommendations of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign have seen a reduction in mortality rate for hospital-acquired severe sepsis. ⋯ Sepsis is a complicated syndrome with many physiological derangements and many emerging laboratory markers of sepsis have been proposed as adjuncts to clinical evaluation. The list includes cytokines, acute phase proteins, neutrophil activation markers, markers of abnormal coagulation and, recently, markers of suppression of both the innate and adaptive immune response. The perfect biomarker would accurately identify patients at risk of developing severe sepsis and then guide targeted therapy.
-
Biomarkers in medicine · Feb 2011
ReviewFunctional testing methods for the antiplatelet effect of P2Y12 receptor antagonists.
Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a P2Y(12) receptor antagonist is the cornerstone of management in patients with acute coronary syndrome and those with coronary artery disease who have undergone coronary stent implantation. Clopidogrel is the most commonly used P2Y(12) antagonist. ⋯ The consistent observation that a lack of clopidogrel effect based on these tests is associated with poor clinical outcome has led to the promise of an individualized, patient-centered approach to antiplatelet therapy. Over the past few years, a wealth of data have helped bring this promise closer to reality, and upcoming clinical trials of platelet function testing could at last bring personalized medicine into routine clinical practice.
-
Biomarkers in medicine · Jun 2010
ReviewClinical application of sensitive cardiac troponin assays: potential and limitations.
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the major cause of death worldwide. Cardiac troponins (cTns) are structural proteins, unique to the heart, that currently form the cornerstone of the AMI diagnosis. The major limitation of standard cTn assays is a sensitivity deficit at presentation caused by a delayed increase of circulating levels. ⋯ The differential diagnosis of a small amount of myocardial injury and, therefore, mild elevation of cTn is broad, and includes acute and chronic disorders. The differential diagnosis of a large amount of myocardial injury and, therefore, substantial elevation of cTn is much smaller and largely restricted to AMI, myocarditis and takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The aim of this article is to guide clinicians in the use of sensitive cTn.