Blood biomarkers in clinical outcome prediction of congenital heart disease patients with consideration for pulmonary valve replacement

Abstract

Objective

The review aims to study potential reference ranges of blood biomarkers, which could aid in outcome prediction in Tetralogy of Fallot patients. Potentially, blood biomarkers could assist in evaluation of the need and timing of pulmonary valve replacement.

Methods

Studies with all-aged patients with Tetralogy or Pentalogy of Fallot and blood biomarkers, BNP, NT-proBNP and hs-cTn, usage in clinical outcome prediction were included. Additionally, pulmonary valve replacement indications were considered. Other congenital heart diseases, biomarkers without importance in clinical outcome and associated pathologies or physiological states were the exclusion criteria. Keywords, Tetralogy and Pentalogy of Fallot, pulmonary valve replacement, blood biomarkers, yielded 69 suitable studies from Google Scholar, PubMed and Web-of-Science, and 39 studies were selected.

Results

Blood biomarkers were increased in TOF patients in comparison to healthy controls; the higher the values, the worse adverse outcomes. Combination of blood biomarkers and other methods showed promising results in outcome prediction.

Conclusions

Blood biomarkers are validated as follow-up predictors in congenital heart disease paediatric patients. Further research is required to establish appropriate reference ranges in children. Pulmonary valve replacement timing remains controversial.

congenital heart disease, tetralogy of Fallot, pentalogy of Fallot, blood biomarkers, pulmonary valve replacement