SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Critical Diagnostics announced today that a group of eminent leaders in the field of cardiology from around the world gathered to discuss the evidence base behind the evolving role of the cardiac biomarker ST2 in the management of patients with heart failure and related diseases. The panels’ findings are expected to be published later this year.
The 16 panel members included (in alphabetical order) Ednan Bajwa, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Antoni Bayes-Genis, MD, PhD, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias I Pujol, Barcelona, Spain; Lori Daniels, MD, MPH, University of California, San Diego, CA; Christopher deFilippi, MD, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD; Salvatore Di Somma, MD, PhD, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy; Jennifer Ho, MD, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA; Allan Jaffe, MD, PhD Mayo, Rochester, MN; James L. Januzzi, Jr, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Alan S. Maisel, MD, University of California, San Diego, CA; Alexandre Mebazaa, MD, PhD, Hospital Lariboisiere, Paris, France; Thomas Mueller, MD, Konventhospital Bamherzige Bruder Linz, Linz, Austria; Domingo Pascual-Figal, MD, PhD, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain; A. Mark Richards, MD, PhD, Christchurch School of Medicine, Christchurch, New Zealand; Piyamitr Sritara, MD, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Thomas Wang, MD, MPH, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; and Yuhui Zhang, MD, Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China.
"With an aging population we're facing an epidemic in the number of new heart failure cases filling our hospital beds and doctors' waiting rooms," says Dr. Bayes-Genis, a Co-Chair of the meeting. "This international consensus panel, made up of many of the most prestigious thought leaders from around the world, was designed to establish clinical parameters for use of the biomarker ST2 in improving patient outcomes while lowering overall health care costs."
"Among the most exciting developments in the field of heart failure in recent times has been the discovery of new biomarkers to better understand the diagnosis, and open up the possibilities of truly personalized care for patients so affected,” notes Dr. James Januzzi, the panel’s other Co-Chair. “Among the newer biomarkers studied over the years that has generated a great deal of buzz is the novel biomarker ST2. Despite recent interest in ST2 amongst many in the scientific community, we felt the available literature lacked a comprehensive expert review of the past, present and future roles for ST2 in a broad range of applications in heart failure, including prognostication, treatment monitoring, and therapeutic purposes. The ST2 consensus panel has provided a useful road map for understanding the value of this important biomarker.”
The ST2 Consensus Meeting was held in Washington DC, on Thursday March 27, to coincide with the start of the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session,1 which brings together cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists from around the world each year to share the newest discoveries in treatment and prevention. The sessions included posters and presentations surrounding recent studies involving the use of ST2 in various clinical settings.
About ST2
ST2 is a soluble protein expressed by the heart in response to disease or injury. It is reflective of ventricular remodeling and cardiac fibrosis associated with heart failure. ST2 is not adversely affected by confounding factors such as age, body mass index and impaired renal function.2 Unlike many other cardiac biomarkers, ST2 levels change quickly in response to changes in the patient’s condition—thus helping physicians make informed decisions on an appropriate course of action to take and, if needed, to quickly adjust treatment. All this makes ST2 an ideal serial biomarker for monitoring and treating heart failure patients.3 The Presage® ST2 Assay from Critical Diagnostics is the only commercially available ST2 biomarker test in the world. The Presage ST2 Assay has been CE Marked and cleared by the U.S. FDA for use as in the risk stratification of chronic heart failure patients.
About Critical Diagnostics
Founded in 2004, Critical Diagnostics (www.criticaldiagnostics.com) develops novel biomarkers to help physicians optimize patient care in cardiovascular diseases, while containing healthcare costs. Critical Diagnostics has distribution partners for its Presage ST2 Assay in 45 countries, covering two-thirds of the world’s population.
1 Critical Diagnostics is not affiliated with the American
College of Cardiology (ACC) and the International ST2 Consensus Panel
was not associated with ACC’s Annual Scientific Session.
2
Yancy, C, et al. 2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart
Failure, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2013.
3
Felker, M, et al. Soluble ST2 in Ambulatory Patients with Heart Failure:
Association with Functional Capacity and Long-Term Outcomes. Circulation
Heart Failure, 2013.
