B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) plasma levels are commonly high at the early phase of septic shock and have been suggested to be prognostic markers for this condition. It is uncertain, however, whether this increase reflects sepsis related cardiac dysfunction. In a recent issue of Critical Care, Mokart and coworkers showed the accuracy of NT-proBNP in pre...

stolic dysfunction either in asymptomatic or symptomatic patients, that is, stage B or C of the definition of heart failure, according to the classification of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology task force for the diagnosis and management of chronic heart failure (3 ). One important finding of our metaanalysis (1 ) is represented by the heterogeneity of data published...

Recent studies report that, in the absence of heart failure and renal failure, plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has prognostic value for mortality. We sought to confirm and extend these previous studies to assess BNP, measured by 3 distinct assays, as a biomarker for mortality in a strategy to enhance efforts at primary prevention and to better understand the clinical phenotype of such s...

BACKGROUND Brain natriuretic peptides are relevant markers of heart impairment. AIM We investigated the relevance of investiging brain natriuretic peptides (NT-proBNP, BNP) in monitoring different types of cardiovascular disease (chronic heart failure due to coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, acquired valve disease, congenital heart diseases). METHODS The NT-proBNP assay (Roche) was p...

BACKGROUND Cardiomyopathy is reported in Duchenne and Becker muscle dystrophy patients and female carriers. Brain Natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone produced mainly by ventricular cardiomyocytes and its production is up regulated in reaction to increased wall stretching. N-terminal-proBNP (NT-proBNP) has been shown to be a robust laboratory parameter to diagnose and monitor cardiac failure,...

I t is assumed that the athlete’s heart represents a physiological adaptation to endurance exercise, caused by an increased volume load. As a new cardiac biomarker, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) allows us to serologically perceive myocardial wall stress. As elevated resting BNP concentrations reflect pathological ventricular overload, it was hypothesised that in case of a physiological hypert...

BACKGROUND In 2003 the National Institute of Clinical Excellence published guidelines recommending the use of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the electrocardiogram (ECG) as part of the diagnostic work up of individuals with heart failure. However, the guideline did not address whether one test was superior to the other or whether performing both tests was superior to performing single tests...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Plasma concentrations of the N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are increased in end-stage renal disease. Improvement in hemodynamic stability has been reported when switching from hemodialysis (HD) to on-line hemodiafiltration (ol-HDF). The aim of this study was to investigate plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP, BNP and neuropeptide Y (NPY) during ...

BACKGROUND Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal-proBNP (NT-proBNP), and high sensitive cardiac troponin T (TnT) are markers that are elevated in chronic kidney disease and correlate with increased risk of mortality. Data are conflicting on the effect of biomarker levels by hemodialysis (HD).Our aim was to clarify to what extent HD with low-flux (LF) versus high-flux (HF) membranes affect...

pressure overload states [2]. Plasma levels of the natriuretic peptide are elevated in patients with various forms of heart disease. BNP and the amino terminal segment of its prohormone, NT-proBNP3, have been studied for more than two decades and are established as biomarkers for specific indications in adult cardiology [3]. Naturally, data in the pediatric age group are far more modest. Howeve...