Abstract
Cardiovascular disease biomarkers are substances that indicate the presence of cardiovascular disease. They may be released from the heart or result from a specific response to the cardiovascular disease.
Genetic, epigenetic, proteomic, glycomic, and imaging biomarkers can be used for the diagnosis, prognosis, and epidemiology of cardiovascular disease. Ideally, such biomarkers can be assayed in biofluids like blood, which may be collected relatively easily.
Conventional risk scores based on the presence of major cardiovascular risk factors (e. g., age, gender, cigarette smoking history, and hypertension) are widely available. These traditional algorithms have been updated and enhanced by the inclusion of cardiovascular disease biomarkers. The use of biomarkers facilitates the management of cardiovascular disease.
Several potentially relevant novel cardiovascular biomarkers have been discovered through omic technologies such as genomics, and proteomics. It is difficult even for experienced scientists and clinicians to remain up-to-date with the rapid pace of the developments in this field. For those new to the field, it is difficult to know which of the myriad of available sources are reliable. To assist our colleagues, we have therefore produced tables containing reliable, up-to-date resources in this chapter. The experts who assisted with the compilation of these tables of resources are acknowledged below.
Biomarkers are of significant value in modern cardiology.