BACKGROUND High circulating concentrations of N-terminal fragments of A- and B-type natriuretic peptides (NT-proANP and NT-proBNP) identify patients with impaired cardiac function. ProANP-derived peptides are particularly sensitive to increased preload of the heart and proBNP-derived peptides to increased afterload; therefore, combining the information from the ANP and BNP systems into a single...

INTRODUCTION Increased serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been identified for diagnosis and prognosis of impaired cardiac function in patients suffering from congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and sepsis. However, the prognostic value of BNP in multiple injured patients developing multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) remains undetermined. Therefore, the aims of this...

INTRODUCTION N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) predicts adverse cardiac outcome in patients undergoing vascular surgery. However, several conditions might influence this prognostic value, including anemia. In this study, we evaluated whether anemia confounds the prognostic value of NT-proBNP for predicting cardiac events in patients undergoing vascular surgery. METHODS A d...

BACKGROUND Amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has emerged as predictor of mortality endpoints in cardiac disease. In contrast, the prognostic value of NT-proBNP in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the capability of NT-proBNP as a marker for long-term prognosis in atherosclerotic PAD. METHODS We obtained NT-proBN...

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal pro-BNP (NTproBNP) 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 NTproBNP in predi...

BACKGROUND: The potential cardiotoxicity of antipsychotic drugs is well known. The N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is considered to be a possible biomarker in clinical practice for the diagnosis and prognosis in patients with suspected heart failure. This pilot evaluation tests the influence of antipsychotic drugs on NT-proBNP concentration in view of the hypothesi...

Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. A recent study demonstrated that a high level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may be associated with PEW in those patients. This prospective study aimed to assess the association of NT-proBNP with body composition and muscle loss. A cohort of prevalent HD patients (n = 238) was examined. Blood samples...

Biochemical tests to detect B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro-brain BNP (NT-proBNP) are useful diagnostic methods for patients with possible HF. These tests are valuable prognostic predictors for the entire spectrum of HF disease severity. Therefore, the measurements of BNP or NT-proBNP taken along with conventional clinical assessments may assist clinicians in deciding treatme...

UNLABELLED Natriuretic peptides can be used as markers of heart failure, its severity and also in the differential diagnosis of dyspnea. Moreover, the dynamics of natriuretic peptides in physical standardized exercise may be used in the assessment of latent heart failure. AIM OF THE STUDY Can determination of NT-proBNP be used in the diagnosis of exercise-induced ischemia or latent heart fail...