Key result
Elevated BNP and NT-proBNP correlate only weakly with PCWP in critically ill ICU patients.
Why the study?
Although BNP and NT-proBNP correlate with LV filling pressures in depressed LV systolic function, their relationship to PCWP in a heterogeneous ICU population has not been established.
Observational (n=40)
Effect estimate: r = 0.40 for BNP, r = 0.32 for NT-proBNP
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Captured external expert commentary on this paper, strongest first. Original sources are linked where available.
“This study confirms what we know from clinical practice that a single value of BNP is often not useful unless we know the 'dry BNP' of the patient. An interesting study would be to determine whether serial BNPs track changes in filling pressures in critically ill patients with normal renal function.”
“In another study of 40 critical care patients, both BNP (R = 0.40) and N-terminal pro-BNP (R = 0.32) had weak correlations with the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and were dependent on renal function.”
May support BNP-guided hemodynamic assessment in ICU; leaves open prospective outcome validation.
Forfia et al. (2005) conducted an observational in Critical illness (n=40). B-type natriuretic peptides (BNP and NT-proBNP) was evaluated on Correlation with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) (r = 0.40 for BNP, r = 0.32 for NT-proBNP). BNP and NT-proBNP levels were markedly elevated but only weakly correlated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r=0.40 and r=0.32, respectively) in critically ill ICU patients.
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