Metabolic syndrome is associated with intravascular inflammation, as determined by increased levels of inflammatory biomarkers and an increased risk of ischemic atherothrombotic events. Evidence suggests that atherothrombosis and intravascular inflammation share predictive biomarkers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, CD40 ligand, P-selectin, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic pe...

NT-proBNP is produced from both atria and ventricles. The primary regulation of production is at the synthesis level. The plasma half-life of NT-proBNP is 60-120 min. Cutoff value of NT-proBNP for diagnosis of heart failure is 125 pg/ml in the age group below 75 years and 450 pg/ml in the age group above 75 years. It increases in atrial fibrillation and drops after successful cardioversion. Hig...

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a peptide hormone secreted by cardiomyocytes in response to atrial or ventricular wall stretch and/or pressure overload. It promotes a number of systemic effects, including vasodilatation, increase in urinary output and sodium excretion, as well as inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system. Plasma BNP levels have...

      Kawasaki disease (KD) is characterized as the leading cause of acquired cardiac disease in children. Accurate and timely diagnosis of KD is of high importance for preventing its cardiac complications. However, diagnosis merely based on clinical findings has a number of challenges and, limitations. Therefore, researchers are investigating to find more object...

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether alterations in N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) reflect changes in right ventricular structure and function in pulmonary hypertension patients during treatment. The study consisted of 30 pulmonary hypertension patients; 15 newly diagnosed and 15 on long-term treatment. NT-proBNP, right heart catheterisation and cardiac ...

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the clinical correlation between angiographic coronary atherosclerosis and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide along with other known correlated factors. METHODS In total, 153 patients with a diagnostic hypothesis of stable angina, unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction were classified as group A (patients with angiographically normal c...

BACKGROUND We organized and conducted a proficiency testing study (CardioOrmocheck) to evaluate the differences in analytical performance of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) immunoassays. METHODS Approximately 90 Italian laboratories were involved in the 2005-2007 proficiency testing cycles, while 112 laboratories took part in the 2008 cycle (from January to M...

OBJECTIVE To correlate the serum levels of B type natriuretic peptide and the N-terminal fraction of the pro-B type natriuretic peptide, as well as to analyze the influence of age, obesity, renal failure, left ventricle ejection fraction, diastolic dysfunction, and anemia on serum levels of both markers. METHODS An observational study in which the agreement was compared between these markers ...