Evaluation of ST2 and IL-33 in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Trouble Breathing
Evaluation of ST2 and IL-33 in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Trouble Breathing
Trouble breathing (dyspnea) is a nonspecific symptom associated with many diseases such as
 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (lung disorder in which the flow of air to the lungs is
 blocked), asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs),
 congestive heart failure (fluid build-up in the lungs because the heart is not pumping
 normally) and pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs). The purpose of this study is to
 test two blood markers called ST2 and IL-33. Blood markers are proteins or other compounds in
 your blood that physicians use to diagnose different diseases and to determine what the
 course of an illness will be. In preliminary research studies, ST2 and IL-33 have been
 elevated in patients with a wide variety of diseases where the lungs are the primary organs
 involved. This research study will further investigate the ability of ST2 and IL-33 to
 predict the severity of disease and the possible use of ST2 and IL-33 in the diagnosis of
 various lung diseases.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Presenting to the Emergency Department with signs and symptoms of dyspnea (short of
 breath, tachypnea, hyperventilation, etc) within the last 24 hours

 -  Normal cardiac output as measured by noninvasive bioimpedance

 -  Greater than or equal to 18 years of age

 -  Patient or legal representative willing and able to provide informed consent and
 comply with study procedures

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  A history of congestive heart failure and a BNP > 500pg/mL (or NTproBNP > 900pg/mL) if
 obtained by the treating physician

 -  Treating physician suspects patient has new onset congestive heart failure

 -  ECG changes diagnostic of acute myocardial ischemia/infarction

 -  Ischemic chest pain within the prior 24 hours by history

 -  Obvious chest trauma