The Role of Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Systolic Heart Failure

In Brief Heart failure (HF) is a progressive multisystem disease that involves neurohormonal activation, dysfunction of cardiac and skeletal musculature, and a host of other pathological changes. The neurohormonal activation in HF triggers the release of the natriuretic peptides. One peptide of particular interest is brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). It is primarily released by the ventricles of the heart and has adaptive function in counteracting the effects of neurohormonal activation in patients with HF. The focus of this article is the discussion of the physiology of BNP as well as its role in systolic HF, although it also plays a role in diastolic HF. Each day we learn more about brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). This article provides an overview of BNP and its role in systolic heart failure, which is a very common disorder found in Americans.