[Cardiac natriuretic peptides as markers for cardiac disease--where do we stand today?].
BACKGROUND
A common denominator of many cardiac diseases is increased intracardiac pressure and wall stretch. This is accompanied by increased secretion from the heart of cardiac natriuretic peptides ANP and BNP and the N-terminal part of their prohormones (Nt-proANP, Nt-pro-BNP).


METHODS
Current evidence for the utility of cardiac natriuretic peptide measurements for diagnosis and follow-up of cardiac disease is reviewed.


RESULTS
Published literature clearly indicates the usefulness of this kind of testing to the clinician diagnosing heart failure and estimating long-term prognosis. The value of repeated measurements for monitoring and tailoring of cardiac therapy is still under evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac natriuretic peptides are biochemical markers of cardiac function. Measurement of these peptides seems to be a significant diagnostic advancement. The precise role of this method in everyday clinical practice remains to be fully delineated.
Hall
Christian
C
Institutt for indremedisinsk forskning, Universitetet i Oslo Rikshospitalet 0027 Oslo. christian.hall@klinmed.uio.no
Stokke
Oddvar
O
D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry
D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor