Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in differential diagnosis of dyspnea.
BACKGROUND
The differentiation of congestive heart failure from pulmonary cause of dyspnea is of extreme importance in patients presenting with acute shortness of breath. It seems that the use of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) can speed up the diagnostic process significantly.


METHODS
79 patients (46 men - 58.2%, average 71.9, range 43-92; 33 women - 41.8%, average 75.5, range 51-93). In each of them we measured BNP concentrations by means of rapid fluorescent immunoassay.


RESULTS
We divided the patients according to BNP results into two groups: BNP positive and BNP negative. There were 28 BNP negative patients -35.40% (13 men, 15 women). BNP positive patients (51) were divided into NYHA I-IV groups in accordance with BNP results.


CONCLUSIONS
The rapid, highly sensitive and specific measurement of BNP concentrations in the patients with dyspnea can significantly help to differentiate the cardiac and pulmonary causes of dyspnea (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 24).
Belovicova
M
M
1st Department of Internal Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia. mariab@ba.psg.sk
Kinova
S
S
Hrusovsky
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain