Classification of New Biomarkers of Dilated Cardiomyopathy Based on Pathogenesis—An Update

Abstract

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a complex heart disease affecting the heart musculature and vasculature, involving one or several underlying pathophysi-ological mechanisms. Identifying potential biomarkers for dilated cardio-myopathy is a challenge owing to various aetiologies involved. Studying the biomarkers involved in DCM will ultimately give a better insight about which pathophysiological pathways are involved in the onset of the disease. Owing to its multifactorial aetiologies, response to treatment is usually poor. If we can find the exact underlying causes, a better treatment approach could be implemented. One way to obtain better insight of DCM is to study the bio-markers released. Through biomarkers, we can know which underlying mechanisms are involved. Biomarkers can provide us with clinical information such as diagnostic, prognostic, risk stratification as well as response to treatment. Underlying mechanisms such as inflammation, stress/strain, myo-cyte injury, matrix remodelling, oxidative stress, neurohormones involvement , among others, can contribute to the onset of DCM. Different mechanisms will yield different biomarkers. So it would be wise to classify those biomarkers involving in DCM based on their respective pathogenesis. Moreover , most importantly is to be able to make use of the information that bio-marker pertains. However, specificity of those biomarkers poses a problem. One way of making these biomarkers clinically useful is to make use of a bio-marker modelling score system.