2024 Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages 24-34
Atherosclerosis is characterized by the response of the vessel wall to chronic multifactorial injury, which leads to the formation of atheromatous or fibrous plaques. Endothelial dysfunction is the initial stage of atherosclerosis. In addition to endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle dysfunction and metabolic abnormalities of the vessel wall, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and alterations in the neurohormonal balance, occur in various stages of atherosclerosis. 'Vascular failure' is defined as the integration of the aforementioned vascular abnormalities. In 2018, the Physiological Diagnosis Criteria for Vascular Failure Committee of the Japan Society of Vascular Failure and the Japanese Circulation Society proposed new physiological diagnostic criteria for vascular failure using universally available diagnostic modalities. However, these physiological tests can be performed only in large hospitals or specific cardiovascular clinics due to the requirement of expensive medical equipment and skillful technicians. BNP and/or NT-proBNP have emerged as useful biomarkers for evaluating the existence and severity of congestive heart failure, even by general physicians. However, distinct specific modalities such as cardiac sonography and MRI are essential to diagnose and treat heart failure. In this context, the Japan Society of Vascular Failure organized a working group to identify and establish suitable biomarkers for detecting vascular failure. In the 8th annual scientific meeting of the Japan Society for Vascular Failure, the working group held a symposium entitled "Possible biomarkers to detect vascular failure: What is known? What needs to be elucidated?" Herein, we elicit four presentations from the symposium and discuss them in detail.
