Abstract :
Heart failure is a deadly disease and is the focus of several
ongoing biomarker studies. However, it is quite difficult to scientifically validate a specific biomarker because many biomarkers
are neither disease specific nor tailored by therapeutic approach
(1). Hence, although biomarkers are a subject of scientific papers, they rarely appear in clinical markets.
In a recent case–control study, Barman et al. (2) showed
that peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, in relation to New York Heart Association (NYHA) class,
were lower in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection
fraction (HFrEF) compared with age-and sex-matched healthy
individuals. The authors determined that decreased serum
BDNF levels were associated with death and rehospitalization
in with HFrEF, suggesting that BDNF can be a useful prognostic
biomarker
