Oxidative stress and inflammatory markers – the future of heart failure diagnostics?

Heart failure remains one of the most important problems in cardiology despite the progress in its treatment. A number of recent studies have demonstrated the relationship between the intensification of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation and the severity of left ventricular dysfunction, development of heart failure symptoms, and prediction of future cardiac events. Early detection of changes developing in the heart is key in improving the treatment's effectiveness. It appears that determining specific, sensitive biomarkers reflecting the complex pathophysiology of heart failure and using them to detect asymptomatic cardiac alterations may become a crucial screening tool, assisting in the identification of patients requiring further diagnostic examinations. This article presents an overview of the current knowledge of the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in heart failure; it also discusses the potential role of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers as prognostic factors in heart failure that may be used in screening tests.