Serum Biomarkers in Heart Failure

Blood samples for routine laboratory assays were obtained from the AHF patients at admission to the hospital. The blood was collected in 6 mL tubes, VACUETTE^® Z Serum Clot Activator (Greiner Bio-one GmbH, Kremsmuenster, Austria) with a special coating on the internal wall of the tubes containing microscopic silica particles to prevent clot formation by surface activation. Serum creatinine, urea, total plasma cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were measured using a Beckman Coulter instrument AU 2700, 2007 (Brea, CA, SAD) and Architect c8000, Abbott 2013 (Chicago, IL, SAD). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated as described [26 (link)]. The serum aliquots were stored and transported at -80°C.