Rapid measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide in the emergency diagnosis of heart failure.
BACKGROUND
B-type natriuretic peptide is released from the cardiac ventricles in response to increased wall tension.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective study of 1586 patients who came to the emergency department with acute dyspnea and whose B-type natriuretic peptide was measured with a bedside assay. The clinical diagnosis of congestive heart failure was adjudicated by two independent cardiologists, who were blinded to the results of the B-type natriuretic peptide assay.


RESULTS
The final diagnosis was dyspnea due to congestive heart failure in 744 patients (47 percent), dyspnea due to noncardiac causes in 72 patients with a history of left ventricular dysfunction (5 percent), and no finding of congestive heart failure in 770 patients (49 percent). B-type natriuretic peptide levels by themselves were more accurate than any historical or physical findings or laboratory values in identifying congestive heart failure as the cause of dyspnea. The diagnostic accuracy of B-type natriuretic peptide at a cutoff of 100 pg per milliliter was 83.4 percent. The negative predictive value of B-type natriuretic peptide at levels of less than 50 pg per milliliter was 96 percent. In multiple logistic-regression analysis, measurements of B-type natriuretic peptide added significant independent predictive power to other clinical variables in models predicting which patients had congestive heart failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Used in conjunction with other clinical information, rapid measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide is useful in establishing or excluding the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in patients with acute dyspnea.
University of California, San Diego, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Diego 92161, USA. amaisel@ucsd.edu
Alan S
AS
Maisel
Padma
P
Krishnaswamy
Richard M
RM
Nowak
James
J
McCord
Judd E
JE
Hollander
Philippe
P
Duc
Torbjørn
T
Omland
Alan B
AB
Storrow
William T
WT
Abraham
Alan H B
AH
Wu
Paul
P
Clopton
Philippe G
PG
Steg
Arne
A
Westheim
Catherine Wold
CW
Knudsen
Alberto
A
Perez
Radmila
R
Kazanegra
Howard C
HC
Herrmann
Peter A
PA
McCullough
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications
D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain