CST3 and heart failure: Biomarkers commonly measured in heart failure patients such as cystatin C, galectin-3, interleukin 6, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) showed no differences between the two groups, but cardiac troponin I (cTnI) was significantly lower in patients with low BNP levels (9 pg/ml vs. 15 pg/ml; p = 0.02).