Introdução A última Diretriz de Insuficiência Cardíaca do Departamento de Insuficiência Cardíaca da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (DEIC/SBC) foi finalizada em março de 2018. A partir de então, houve um importante número de intervenções terapêuticas e abordagens diagnósticas que surgiram ou se consolidaram na prática clínica internacional e na pesquisa clínica. Ao lado disso, a pandemia da COVID-19 trouxe-nos conhecimento sobre o modelo fisiopatológico da agressão miocárdica e muitas dúvidas acerca da continuidade e da segurança dos medicamentos nos pacientes [...] Introdução A última Diretriz de Insuficiência Cardíaca do Departamento de Insuficiência Cardíaca da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (DEIC/SBC) foi finalizada em março de 2018. A partir de então, houve um importante número de intervenções terapêuticas e abordagens diagnósticas que surgiram ou se consolidaram na prática clínica internacional e na pesquisa clínica. Ao lado disso, a pandemia da COVID-19 trouxe-nos conhecimento sobre o modelo fisiopatológico da agressão miocárdica e muitas dúvidas acerca da continuidade e da segurança dos medicamentos nos pacientes

ST2 is a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family biomarker and circulating soluble ST2 concentrations are believed to reflect cardiovascular stress and fibrosis. Recent studies have demonstrated soluble ST2 to be a strong predictor of cardiovascular outcomes in both chronic and acute heart failure. It is a new biomarker that meets all required criteria for a useful biomarker. Of note, it adds information to natriuretic peptides (NPs) and some studies have shown it is even superior in terms of risk stratification. Since the introduction of NPs, this has been the most promising biomarker in the field of heart failure and might be particularly useful as therapy guide.

Aims This study was undertaken to determine the diagnostic value of admission B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with acute chest pain and no ST-segment elevation. Methods and results A prospective study with 631 consecutive patients was conducted in the emergency department. Non-ST elevation AMI was present in 72 patients and their median admission BNP level was significantly higher than in unstable angina and non-acute coronary syndrome patients. Sensitivity of admission BNP for AMI (cut-off value of 100 pg/mL) was significantly higher than creatine kinase-MB (CKMB) and troponin-I on admission (70.8 vs. 45.8 vs. 50.7%, respectively, P<0.0001) and specificity was 68.9%. Simultaneous use of these markers significantly improved sensitivity to 87.3% and the negative predictive value to 97.3%. In multiple logistic regression analysis, admission BNP was a significant independent predictor of AMI, even when CKMB and troponin-I were present in the model. Conclusion BNP is a useful adjunct to standard cardiac markers in patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain and no ST-segment elevation, particularly if initial CKMB and/or troponin-I are non-diagnostic.

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a cytokine upregulated in multiple pathological conditions where oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, tissue aging, and chronic inflammation are the hallmarks. GDF-15 has many sources of production, including cardiac and vascular myocytes, endothelial cells, adipocytes and macrophages in response to metabolic stress, oncogenic transformation and the burden of proinflammatory cytokines or reactive oxygen species. Although the main sources of GDF-15 are extracardiac tissues, it has been shown to be elevated in many cardiac disorders. In experimental models of heart disease, GDF-15 release is induced after an ischemic insult and in pressure overload scenarios. Likewise, in recent years, an increasing body of evidence has emerged linking GDF-15 to the risk of mortality in acute coronary syndromes, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Additionally, GDF-15 has been shown to add prognostic information beyond other conventional biomarkers such as natriuretic peptides and cardiac troponins. Further studies are needed to assess whether the incorporation of GDF-15 into clinical practice can improve cardiovascular outcomes.

Inflammation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of a series of cardiovascular diseases. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of inflammation easily obtained in the emergency room. To study the prognostic value of CRP in patients admitted for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). A prospective cohort of 119 patients with ADHF treated in the emergency room. Mean age was 74+/-11 years and 76 (64%) of patients were male. All were New York Heart Association Functional Class III or IV. CRP was measured by nephelometry at admission. Patients were followed after hospital discharge for an average of 12+/-9.7 months and cardiovascular mortality was the outcome analyzed. There were 44 (36.9%) deaths, all from cardiovascular causes. Individuals with CRP > 3 mg/dl had higher mortality than those below this level (p=0.018). In the multivariate analysis using Cox proportional model, CRP proved to be the most important independent prognostic factor (odds ratio 0.0916 [95% CI = 0.0341 - 0.1490] for each one-unit increment in CRP). CRP is an independent cardiovascular mortality predictor in patients with ADHF, indicating that inflammation represents an important component in the pathophysiology of the disease.