Table 1. Summary of the characteristics and utility of key cardiac biomarkers.

Biomarker	Distribution in dialysis population	Diagnostic utility	Monitoring utility
NT-proBNP	Exceeds upper limit of normal in >93%. Between person coefficient of variation 153% [48]	Limited—due to high between person variation and influenced by several pathophysiological factors (volume state, LV function, ischemia and inflammation)	Promising—Change in concentration directly associated with risk of non-fatal and fatal cardiovascular events—precise monitoring limits and interventions yet to be established
Troponin	Exceeds upper limit of normal in >90% even in absence of acute myocardial injury. Between person Coefficient of variation 83% [107]	Useful in acute care settings using serial measurements—a change of >33% excludes biological variation with 99% certainty	Promising—change in serial values associated with risk of mortality, precise monitoring limits and interventions yet to be established [142]
ST2	Unknown	Promising—levels correlate positively with peak CK in ACS [114]	Promising—Prognostic ability not influenced by renal function [117]. Adds prognostic value to NTpro-BNP and cardiac troponins [116]
GAL-3	Unknown	Limited	Promising—independent predictive value for mortality in chronic heart failure [122]