Biomarkers and prognosis in cardiac surgery in the ICU

Abstract

In this thesis the research of the role of new biomarkers in prognostic models in Cardiac surgery patients in the ICU is presented. The conclusion is that biomarkers, and especially nt-Pro-ADM, can improve the accuracy of the EuroScore model and predict mortality equally good as the APACHE-IV model. A critical appraisal compares likewise studies with the studies published in the thesis. Also, the relation between genetic polymorphisms and serum levels of the biomarkers is investigated leading to the conclusion that for procalcitonin (PCT) serum levels depend on the genetic profile.