The role of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, troponins, and D-dimer in acute cardio-respiratory syndromes: a multi-specialty systematic review
Ibrahim, Muhammad Ahmad, Jawad Abbas, Muhammad Zainullah Umar, Zeeshan Nasir, Momal Zain, Kabsha Ahmad, Jamil Arshad, Seemab Bashir, Atif
Ibrahim, Muhammad
Ahmad, Jawad
Abbas, Muhammad
Zainullah
Umar, Zeeshan
Nasir, Momal
Zain, Kabsha
Ahmad, Jamil
Arshad, Seemab
Bashir, Atif
Affiliation
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust; Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar; Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar; Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Quetta; Pak Emirates Military Hospital; Ziauddin University; Independent Medical College Faisalabad
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Publication date
2025-05-20
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Abstract
This systematic review evaluates the diagnostic and prognostic utility of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponins, and D-dimer in acute cardio-respiratory syndromes, including heart failure (HF), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), pulmonary embolism (PE), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related complications. These biomarkers play critical roles in assessing myocardial stress, injury, and thrombosis risk, offering a rapid and cost-effective alternative to traditional diagnostic tools. A comprehensive literature search from 2015 to 2024 identified 14 high-quality studies, demonstrating NT-proBNP's strong correlation with HF severity and mortality risk in severe COVID-19, while cardiac troponins were associated with myocardial injury in ARDS and ACS. D-dimer emerged as a predictor of thrombotic complications and poor outcomes in interstitial lung disease (ILD) and PE. The combined use of these biomarkers significantly improved risk stratification, enabling early intervention and reducing unnecessary imaging and invasive testing. A multi-marker approach provided superior predictive accuracy for mortality and recurrence risk in PE compared to single biomarker assessments. Despite some methodological limitations, including heterogeneity in biomarker thresholds, the findings support the integration of these markers into routine clinical practice to enhance early diagnosis and patient management. Future research should focus on standardizing biomarker cut-off values, conducting large-scale multi-center trials, and incorporating biomarker data into artificial intelligence (AI)-driven decision systems. This study highlights the potential of biomarker-driven risk assessment in cardio-respiratory medicine, paving the way for more precise, early, and effective intervention strategies to optimize patient outcomes and advance precision medicine in critical care settings.
Citation
Ibrahim M, Ahmad J, Abbas M, Zainullah, Umar Z, Nasir M, Zain K, Ahmad J, Arshad S, Bashir A, Ullah S, Ahmad Z, Safdar S. The Role of N-terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide, Troponins, and D-dimer in Acute Cardio-Respiratory Syndromes: A Multi-specialty Systematic Review. Cureus. 2025 May 20;17(5):e84460. doi: 10.7759/cureus.84460
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Article