title: N-Terminal-proBNP (NT-proBNP) as an indicator of cardiac dysfunction. A study in patients presenting with suspected cardiac disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Natriuretic peptides represent a novel diagnostic tool in the assessment of cardiac dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 473 consecutive referred patients presenting to 18 cardiologists for the assessment of their cardiac state were recruited for the study. Patients received a medical history, a physical examination an electrocardiogram and an echocardiogram where left ventricular ejection fraction was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NT-proBNP was found to correlate with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), level of symptoms (NYHA classification), history of angina pectoris (AP) and myocardial infarction (AMI). Atrial fibrillation (AF) and thyroid dysfunction as well as renal impairment were shown to influence NT-proBNP levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study supports the hypothesis that NT-proBNP determination contributes to the assessment of patients presenting to cardiologists.
authors.affiliation: Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Sandhofer Str. 116, 68305 Mannheim, Germany. georg.hess@roche.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moecks
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zdunek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain