Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Cataract is a biomarker of the risk of and/or presence of cardiovascular disease,
but the grading of cataract and its subclinical precursors is generally subjective and
crude. Assessment of age-related changes in the lens could be used as a biomarker
for IHD. A study was conducted to examine if the risk of IHD could be estimated
by fluorophotometric assessment of lens aging (Kessel et al.
2006
). This study
compared lens fluorometry with an established method of prediction of IHD in
healthy individuals. Lens fluorescence was measured on the undilated eye using a
noninvasive ocular fluorophotometer, the Fluorotron (OcuMetrics, Mountain View,
CA). Excitation was from 430 to 490 nm and detection from 530 to 630 nm.
Presence and severity of lens opacities was determined from retroilluminated lens
photographs focused on the anterior lens surface taken after dilation of the pupil
using a Canon 60UVi camera (Canon Inc, Japan). The degree of cortical lens opaci-
ties was graded. The results of this study suggest that lens fluorescence can be used
as an indicator of tissue damage caused by advanced glycation end products and
that lens fluorescence can be used to give an estimate of the risk of IHD related to
the effect of advanced glycation end products.
Plasma CD93 as a Biomarker for Coronary Artery Disease
A common SNP in the CD93 gene has been associated with risk of CAD. CD93 is
a transmembrane glycoprotein, which is detectable in soluble form in human
plasma. The results of a case-control study of premature MI and a nested case-
control analysis of a longitudinal cohort study of 60-year-old subjects show that
increased concentration of soluble CD93 in plasma is a biomarker for CAD, includ-
ing MI (
Mälarstig et al. 2011
).
Plasma Fetuin-A Levels and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction
Fetuin-A, a protein almost exclusively secreted by the liver, induces insulin resis-
tance and subclinical inflammation in rodents. Circulating fetuin-A levels are ele-
vated in humans with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, conditions that
are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A case-cohort study
based on the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-
Potsdam Study has shown a link between high plasma fetuin-A levels and an
increased risk of MI (Weikert et al.
2008
).
Biomarkers of Congestive Heart Failure
CHF, which occurs when an impaired heart muscle cannot pump blood efficiently,
is a growing health problem and major cause of cardiac death. The diagnosis of heart
failure may be challenging because its symptoms can overlap those of other condi-
tions. Missing a heart failure diagnosis can put patients at high risk of serious prob-
lems, including death, but overdiagnosis may lead patients to receive unnecessary
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