Soluble ST2 testing in the general population.

ST2 is a member of the interleukin (IL)-1 receptor family biomarker, and circulating soluble ST2 concentrations are believed to reflect cardiovascular stress. Recent studies have demonstrated soluble ST2 to be a strong predictor of cardiovascular outcomes in community-based populations free of cardiovascular disease. This report reviews the role of soluble ST2 in relation to cardiovascular risk factors and clinical outcomes in the general population. Furthermore, the recommendations regarding the role of soluble ST2 in general population-based testing, as formulated by the International ST2 Consensus Panel, are presented. There may be a role for soluble ST2 in improving current risk-stratification strategies for the prediction of cardiovascular outcomes, potentially in combination with other biomarkers in a multimarker strategy. However, the role of soluble ST2 testing in the general population has not yet been conclusively established. Future studies investigating the clinical utility of soluble ST2 screening in the general population are warranted.