Biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk in women

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death among U.S. women and men. Established cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and elevated total cholesterol, and risk prediction models based on such factors, perform well but do not perfectly predict future risk of CVD. Thus, there has been much recent interest among cardiovascular researchers in identifying novel biomarkers to aid in risk prediction. Such markers include alternative lipids, B-type natriuretic peptides, high-sensitivity troponin, coronary artery calcium, and genetic markers. This article reviews the role of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, risk prediction tools, and selected novel biomarkers and other exposures in predicting risk of developing CVD in women. The predictive role of novel cardiovascular biomarkers for women in primary prevention settings requires additional study, as does the diagnostic and prognostic utility of cardiac troponins for acute coronary syndromes in clinical settings. Sex differences in the clinical expression and physiology of metabolic syndrome may have implications for cardiovascular outcomes. Consideration of exposures that are unique to, or more prevalent in, women may also help to refine cardiovascular risk estimates in this group.

The association between N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide and lipoprotein particle concentration plateaus at higher N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide values: Multi-Ethnic Study on Atherosclerosis

“…On the other hand above the knot is the presumed pathophysiological range, which may result in response to subclinical or clinical conditions that cause cardiac strain and inflammation [21,22]. This could result in increased synthesis of biologically inactive natriuretic peptides, saturation of natriuretic peptide receptors, even in the absence of down-regulation or to a state of resistance to natriuretic peptides [23] and an association with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality from CVD [24]. …”

Does genistein lower plasma lipids and homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women? A meta-analysis

“…In fact, the deficiency of ovarian function leads to a series of potentially unfavorable changes in lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women, including increases in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, and decreases in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels 6 . These changes in lipid metabolism are significant CVD risk factors and important predictors of death from CVD 7,8 . Along with changes in lipid profiles, circulating levels of homocysteine are significantly higher in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women 9 .…”

The effect of ezetimibe monotherapy on lipoprotein-(a) and other lipid parameters

“…Günümüzde araştırmalar, yeni biyokimyasal belirteç-ler kullanılarak, koroner kalp hastalıklarını oluşturan risk faktörlerini azaltmaya yönelmiştir (11,12) .…”