Markers in Cardiology: A Case-Oriented Approach (American Heart Association Monograph Series)

The application of biomarkers has revolutionized the practice of cardiology, allowing more facile and accurate diagnoses. Increasingly sensitive assays and utilization of markers in combination have furthered the file in the last decade, but with this increased sophistication has also come increased frustration on the part of some clinicians. Some feel that low levels of troponins, for example, that do not appear to correlate with anatomic data obtained during cardiac catheterization, for example, represent “trash" troponin results. This point of view is indicative of the frustrations that many clinicians find in attempting to properly interpret biomarker values. It is necessary to properly understand these assays and how they intercalate with other diagnostic modalities to properly facilitate patient care. Although clinicians would prefer easy answers, the reality is that biomarker values are only as good as those interpreting them in the context of the clinical situation. Elevations can be associated with acute disease or more chronic abnormalities and there are substantial issues with how the markers are measured and differences related to patient presentation and underlying demographics that often can explain elevations or their lack.

The idea of not chasing biomarker abnormalities when we know they most often have prognostic implications is unwise. The real question is how to do these evaluations in the best way so we can provide the appropriate care for our patients and not waste our valuable time and resources inappropriately. Thus, perhaps the term "the smart chasing of biomarker abnormalities" might be considered.
This book represent real world patient problems with potential explanations for values of troponins, natriuretic peptides, and other analytes might be a helpful adjunct to clinicians who are often busy and find it difficult to stay up with all the details of the literature. The cases by a highly distinguished group of clinician investigators are presented as an attempt to provide a roadmap with which to consider the various clinical presentations in which BNP and troponinmay be useful.

Contents 
Part 1 Cardiac troponins
1 Basics of cardiac troponin: practical aspects of assays, potential analytical confounders, and clinical interpretation
2 Diagnostic use of cardiac troponins in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
3 Therapeutic implications of cardiac troponins in ST-segment elevation and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
4 Ischemic heart disease in the absence of overt coronary artery disease
5 So you think you have a "false positive" troponin?
6 Use of cardiac troponin in patients in non-ischemic pathologies and exposure to environmental toxins
7 Cardiac troponins in patients with congestive heart failure
8 Troponins and the critically Ill patient
9 Cardiac troponins and renal failure
10 Cardiac biomarkers: detection of in-hospital myocardial reinfarction
Part 2 Natriuretic peptides
11 The future: interpreting new guidelines for myocardial infarction
12 Basics of natriuretic peptides: practical aspects of assays, potential analytical confounders, and clinical interpretation
13 Natriruetic peptides in clinical practice
14 Outpatient evaluation for cardiovascular diseases using natriuretic peptide testing
15 Natriuretic peptides in patients with renal failure
16 Congestive heart failure: treatment implications of natriuretic peptides
17 Utilizing multimarker strategies in patients who present with congestive heart failure
Part 3 Contemporary markers of risk
18 Clinical integration of C-reactive protein for primary and secondary risk factor stratification
19 Lipoprotein subfraction analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Index 

Book Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1405134186
• ISBN-13: 978-1405134187
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches

List Price: $119.95