AIMS NT-proBNP levels are known to be elevated in systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Doppler indices of diastolic dysfunction (DD) have been shown to have prognostic value in patients with Chagas' cardiomyopathy (CC). However, the additional value of NT-proBNP levels in further stratifying these patients according to DD has not been established. This study analyzed the correlation of N-termina...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Several recent studies have shown that there is an inverse relationship between plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and body mass index (BMI) in subjects with and without heart failure. Obesity frequently coexists with diabetes, so it is important to consider the relationship between diabetes and natriuretic peptide levels. We evaluated the influence of diabetes on...

BACKGROUND N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been associated with important risk factors for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). However, few studies have investigated the predictive value of NT-proBNP itself. This study investigated whether levels of preprocedural NT-proBNP could predict CIN after elective coronary angiography as effectively as the Mehran CIN score. ME...

BACKGROUND Natriuretic peptide concentrations in adults require age- and sex-specific reference intervals for optimal interpretation. Females have higher natriuretic peptide concentrations, and hypotheses suggest that estrogen may be responsible. This study sought to determine the influence of hormone modulation on N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) by using a pediatric cohort....

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...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to assess whether management of heart failure (HF) guided by an individualized N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) target would lead to improved outcome compared with HF management guided by clinical assessment alone. BACKGROUND Natriuretic peptides may be attractive biomarkers to guide management of heart failure (HF) and help select...

OBJECTIVES This study investigated the prognostic value of detectable cardiac troponin T (TnT) and elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in a population of community-dwelling older adults. BACKGROUND Minimally elevated levels of TnT, a marker of cardiomyocyte injury, have been found in small subsets of the general population, with uncertain implications. A mark...

BACKGROUND B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a marker for ventricular dysfunction secreted as a pre-prohormone, pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP), and cleaved into BNP and a biologically inactive fragment, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Little is known about the clinical usefulness of NT-proBNP in preterm infants. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the usefulness of plasma ...

BACKGROUND Objective methods to assess the adequacy of medication therapy for patients with advanced heart failure are lacking. Serial measurements of biomarkers might be beneficial. Therapy guided by N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) might be helpful because NT-proBNP should be lowered by therapies that decrease endogenous BNP secretion. METHODS NT-proBNP and BNP were mea...

INTRODUCTION Several reports confirmed the prognostic value of the N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide prohormone (NT-proBT) in various patient populations. Patients with medical indications for implantation of an artificial cardiac pacemaker are at high risk of cardiovascular events. There is limited data assessing the prognostic value of NT-proBNP in this group. OBJECTIVES The...