Background: For many biomarkers in cardiac surgery, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the normal dynamics of plasma levels during the perioperative course. The aim of this study was to investigate the perioperative dynamics of MR-proADM, MR-proANP, hs-CRP and sP-selectin in cardiac surgery.

Method: A prospective observational pilot study with 20 patients scheduled for open cardiac surgery procedures with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Plasma samples were taken for each patient and biomarker during the pre-, per- and postoperative period until Day 6 postoperatively.

Results: MR-proADM increased significantly from 0.62 [IQR; 0.54–0.93] nmol/L preoperatively to 1.20 [1.04–1.80] nmol/L postoperative Day 1. MR-proANP increased significantly from 125 [77–152] pmol/L preoperatively to 198 [168–307] pmol/L on weaning from CPB. hs-CRP increased significantly from 2.5 mg/L [0.4–12] preoperatively to peak at 208 mg/L [186–239] postoperative Day 3. The preoperative level of sP-selectin at 23.0 [21.3–26.3] ng/mL initially fell at weaning from CPB, followed by a significant peak of 25.5 [22.7–27.7] ng/mL 8 h postoperatively.

Conclusions: The findings in this study may help to understand the physiology of the biomarkers analysed and their response to cardiac surgical trauma including CPB. Furthermore, these findings will guide us in further research on the clinical usefulness of these biomarkers.