title: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels: diagnostic and therapeutic potential.
abstract: Finding a simple blood test that would aid in the diagnosis and management of patients with CHF would clearly have a favorable impact on the staggering costs associated with the disease. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) may be the first potential "white count" for heart failure. The fact that a point-of-care, rapid assay for BNP has recently been approved by the FDA gives the clinician an opportunity to explore its potential usefulness. Data suggest that serial point-of-care testing of BNP will be of immense help in patients presenting to urgent care clinics with dyspnea. Additionally, BNP might serve as a screen for patients referred for echocardiography, and might also be an effective way to improve the in-hospital management of patients admitted with decompensated CHF. Finally, the role of BNP in the outpatient cardiac or primary care clinic may be one of critical importance in titration of therapies as well as assessment of the state of the patient's neurohormonal compensation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology and Department of Medicine, San Diego VA Healthcare System and University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Maisel
mesh_terms: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor