The Biomarker Utility in Risk Stratification in an Ambulatory Heart Failure: ST2 or Galectin-3?

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is multi factorial syndrome with high cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality rates associated with an increasingly prevalence worldwide. Measuring plasma levels of cardiac biomarkers may assist in prognostication of HF. However, the role of biomarker models in prediction of death and re-admission in ambulatory HF patients is not still understood. This editorial comment explores the knowledge regarding head-to-head comparison of galectin-3 and ST2 in risk stratification among ambulatory HF individuals. The comment is indicated sST2 and galectin-3 are recommended as alternate biomarkers with defined predictive value in HF and in generally patient population at high risk of HF manifestation. Recent clinical studies do not allow solving whether sST2 is superior then galectin-3 in ambulatory patient with stable HF because the received results are not obvious, although sST2 appears to be more attractive. Probably, more investigations are required to explain the role of each alternate biomarker in HF prognostication.