Biomarkers
Biomarkers are naturally occuring substances found in the blood. Find out how they can help your doctor determine your risk of developing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).1
1 min read
Looking at:
Several substances in your blood that are ‘markers’ or signs that you could be at risk of developing PAH.1
What to expect:
A doctor or nurse will use a small needle to collect a blood sample from you. They will let you know if you need to do anything to prepare, such as not eating (fasting) etc.
Understanding your results:
Your doctor will look for a number of biomarkers in your blood.
One biomarker your doctor will look for is a protein called N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). This biomarker is linked to heart function and helps to predict PAH.1
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Affandi AJ et al. Update on biomarkers in systemic sclerosis: tools for diagnosis and treatment. Semin Immunopathol (2015) 37:475–487.
"They discovered I had quite severe fibrosis of my lungs. I was referred to a specialist hospital and things have improved with treatment, which is good."
– Mandy