Biomarker-guided heart failure treatment significantly reduces complications
Adding regular testing for blood levels of a biomarker of cardiac distress to standard care for the most common form of heart failure may significantly reduce the incidence of cardiovascular complications, a new study finds. The report from investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Heart Center, appearing in the Oct. 25 Journal of the American College of Cardiology, describes how adjusting therapy to keep levels of the protein NT-proBNP below 1,000 pg/ml reduced hospitalizations for heart failure symptoms by half, along with lowering rates of arrhythmias, stroke, heart attack and cardiac death. Preliminary results of the study results of which were so striking that enrollment was halted halfway through the planned schedule were presented in November at the American Heart Association 2010 Scientific Sessions.