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Brain & Heart AI in biomarker discovery for CVDs

cardiovascular system – highlight the complexity of these allows for tailored applications to specific conditions,
diseases and the need for effective prevention, diagnosis, offering insights into disease mechanisms at a molecular
and treatment strategies. Despite the crucial role of clinical level.
assessments in managing these diseases, traditional In CVDs, biomarkers serve as critical tools for
diagnostic methods for CVDs such as electrocardiography transcending the limitations of standard clinical
(ECG), echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance assessments. They provide essential information for the
(CMR) imaging have their limitations. ECG, while accurate prediction and risk stratification of serious events,
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affordable and simple, primarily detects arrhythmias such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Advancements in
and myocardial ischemia, but lacks detailed insights into research have allowed for the meticulous classification of
3
cardiac structure or function. Echocardiography offers biomarkers in cardiovascular health according to their
visualizations of heart structure and movement but suffers disease specificity and the stages of disease that they are
from low resolution. Digital subtraction angiography, most relevant to. For instance, biomarkers such as B-type
the gold standard for diagnosing vascular stenosis, natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic
carries risks due to its invasive nature. CMR provides peptide are specifically used for diagnosing and managing
comprehensive imaging but is time-consuming and costly. heart failure, reflecting their utility in both acute and
These limitations highlight the necessity for more precise chronic stages of the condition. 6
approaches to enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient
stratification. 4 Moreover, biomarkers also illuminate various
pathological processes that underlie CVDs. Inflammatory
Given these challenges, biomarkers have become markers including C-reactive protein (CRP) and
indispensable in cardiovascular health, transcending interleukin 6 indicate the inflammatory response associated
the capabilities of traditional diagnostic tools. They are with cardiovascular disorders, while metabolic markers
crucial for identifying high-risk individuals, enabling early such as lipoprotein (a) and homocysteine are crucial
diagnosis, and guiding personalized treatment strategies. for understanding metabolic changes that predispose
5
By enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes, individuals to atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular
biomarkers address the limitations of existing modalities conditions. These biomarkers not only enhance the
and are pivotal in advancing personalized medicine in precision of diagnostics but also significantly influence
cardiovascular care. 6 therapeutic outcomes by guiding treatment decisions
2. The potential of biomarkers in CVDs tailored to the individual patient’s disease process. 6
Biomarkers serve as valuable tools for identifying high- The growing emphasis on non-coding RNAs, especially
risk individuals, diagnosing conditions, and guiding microRNAs (miRNAs), has opened new avenues for
treatment strategies. The literature defines biomarkers with discovering CVD biomarkers. MiRNAs such as miR-
considerable precision, with largely overlapping definitions. 208 and miR-499 have shown potential as specific and
In 1998, the National Institutes of Health Biomarkers early markers for acute coronary syndromes and cardiac
Definitions Working Group defined a biomarker as “a dysfunctions, offering promising insights into the
characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated molecular mechanisms of CVD and the potential for early
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as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic intervention.
processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic Table 1 summarizes these various classes of CVD
intervention.” The International Program on Chemical biomarkers, illustrating their diverse applications ranging
7
Safety, a joint venture led by the World Health Organization from the detection of heart failure and myocardial injury to
in coordination with the United Nations and the the assessment of inflammatory and metabolic states, thus
International Labor Organization, defines a biomarker as underscoring their critical role in enhancing diagnostic
“any substance, structure, or process that can be measured accuracy and enabling personalized medical interventions
in the body or its products and can influence or predict the for CVDs.
incidence or outcome of disease.” 8 Notably, the diversity and specificity of biomarkers

These characteristics encompass a wide range of in cardiovascular healthcare (Table 1) underscore their
biological entities, including genes, proteins, and metabolic crucial role in enhancing diagnostic accuracy and tailoring
pathways. Biomarkers play a crucial role in modern therapeutic strategies. This variety enables clinicians to
medicine, serving multiple functions, such as diagnosing more effectively predict and manage various aspects of
diseases, monitoring treatment responses, and predicting CVDs, from the early detection to the progression of
disease progression. The diverse nature of biomarkers complex conditions. Particularly, the focus on circulating

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 2 doi: 10.36922/bh.8442