Purpose: i) To determine the relationship between the cardiac biomarkers ST2 and NT-proBNP with ejection fraction (EF)
in heart failure (HF) patients. ii) Assess whether a superiority existed between the aforementioned cardiac markers in
diagnosing the HF with reduced EF. iii) Determine the efficacy of both biomarkers in predicting a 30-day cardiovascular
event and rehospitalization in patients with HF with reduced EF iv) To assess the influence of age, gender, BMI, anaemia
and renal failure on the ST2 and NT-proBNP levels. Design and Methods: A prospective double-blind study was conducted
to obtain data from a sample of 64 cardiology patients. A blood sample was collected to test for ST2 and NT-proBNP. An
echocardiogram (to obtain EF value), electrocardiogram and questionnaire were also obtained. Results: Of the 64 patients
enrolled, 59.4% of the population had an EF less than 40%. At the end of the 30- day period, 7 patients were warded, 37
were not warded, one died and 17 were non respondent. Both biomarkers were efficacious at diagnosing HF with a reduced
EF. However, neither of them were efficacious in predicting 30-day rehospitalization. The mean NT-proBNP values being:
not rehospitalized (2114.7486) and 30 day rehospitalization (1008.42860) and the mean ST2 values being: not
rehospitalized (336.1975), and 30-day rehospitalization. (281.9657). Conclusion: Neither ST2 or NT-proBNP was
efficacious in predicting the short- term prognosis in HF with reduced EF. Both however were successful at confirming the
diagnosis of HF in HF patients with reduced EF.
Cardiac biomarkers in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis
