The Clinical Significance of Cardiac Markers in COVID-19 Patients: A Review Article

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Mohammed Shaban Franklin Sosa Jose Lopez Gustavo J. Duarte Justin D. Mark Asma Khizar Swati Jain Rishabh Mishra Miguel Rodriguez Guerra Timothy J Vittorio

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 is a highly contagious viral illness that started the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Accumulating evidence suggests that the cardiovascular system is primarily affected by SARS-CoV-2. Cardiovascular complications such as myocarditis, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, arrhythmias, and venous thromboembolism have been reported. The role of cardiac biomarkers in diagnosing and monitoring COVID-19 patients is becoming of particular interest, as it may provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular injury and inform clinical decision-making.


 


Troponins, specifically troponin I, have been widely studied and was proven to be elevated in COVID-19 patients with myocardial injury, indicating a negative prognostic indicator and association with poorer outcomes. Elevated levels of Natriuretic peptides, such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), have been noted in severe COVID-19 cases and are associated with higher mortality rates. However, it is essential to consider that elevated natriuretic peptide levels in COVID-19 patients may also be influenced by factors other than heart failure. CK-MB, a subtype of creatine kinase, has been found to have significantly higher concentrations in COVID-19 patients with high disease severity or non-survivor status, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for risk stratification in this population. Myoglobin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) are additional cardiac markers that can indicate heart muscle damage, but their specificity in COVID-19 patients may be limited.


 


The widely used cardiac markers provide valuable diagnostic and prognostic information about cardiac injury and function in COVID-19 patients. Still, their performance characteristics and interpretation should be considered in the context of the individual patient and conjunction with other clinical assessments.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, myocarditis, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, arrhythmias, troponin, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)

Article Details

How to Cite
SHABAN, Mohammed et al. The Clinical Significance of Cardiac Markers in COVID-19 Patients: A Review Article. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 11, n. 12, dec. 2023. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/4853>. Date accessed: 23 nov. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v11i12.4853.
Section
Review Articles

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