BNP and NT-pro-BNP are valuable diagnostic and prognostic markers for congestive heart failure and acute dyspnea, though reference values vary by age, comorbidities, and the commercial assay used.
What are the diagnostic and prognostic values of BNP and NT-pro-BNP in patients with congestive heart failure or dyspnea?
BNP and NT-pro-BNP are valuable diagnostic and prognostic markers in heart failure, though interpretation requires consideration of age, comorbidities, and assay type.
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a member of a fournatriuretic peptide family that shares a common 17-peptide ring structure. The N-terminal fragment (NT-pro-BNP) is biologically inert, but both are secreted in the plasma in equimolar quantities and both have been evaluated for use in the management of congestive heart failure. BNP and NT-pro-BNP are frequently used in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure and distinguishing between patients with dyspnoea of cardiac or pulmonary origin. Values of NT-pro-BNP are affected by age or the presence of one or several co-morbidities such as chronic renal failure, type 2 diabetes, and acute coronary syndrome. 'Normal' values of these peptides also vary depending on the type of test used. The performance characteristics of these tests vary depending on the patients on whom they are used and the manufacturer. For this reason, the determination of reference values for this peptide represents such a challenge.
Maries et al. (Wed,) conducted a review in Congestive heart failure and acute dyspnea. BNP and NT-pro-BNP testing was evaluated. BNP and NT-pro-BNP are valuable diagnostic and prognostic markers for congestive heart failure and acute dyspnea, though reference values vary by age, comorbidities, and the commercial assay used.