Table 1.

Classification of biomarkers for early cardiac damage identification.

Markers of neurohormonal activation	(i) Natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP, CNP, and related peptides) (ii) Markers of renin angiotensin aldosterone system activity (iii) Arginine vasopressin
Markers of cardiac injury	(i) Cardiac troponins (cTnI, cTnT) (ii) Heart-type fatty-acid protein (iii) Myosin light-chain kinase I
Markers of inflammation and matrix remodelling	(i) Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and MMPs tissue inhibitors (ii) C-reactive protein (iii) Cytokines and related receptors (interleukins IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-18, TNF-α, osteoprotegerin, and Fas ligand)
Markers of systemic organ damage	(i) Renal injury: creatinine, BUN, NGAL, and cystatin C (ii) Hepatic injury: transaminases and gamma-glutamyl transferase
Aspecific laboratories indexes	(i) Anemic status and erythropoietin endogenous levels (ii) Low albumin levels (iii) Hyponatremia (iv) Carbohydrate antigen 125

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), C-type natriuretic peptide, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), blood urea nitrogen, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL).