[Natriuretic peptides in heart failure].
The recent discovery of cardiac endocrine function, together with the development of accurate and feasible assay methods for cardiac natriuretic hormone evaluation, i.e. for B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and inactive peptide NT-proBNP have confirmed their pathophysiological and clinical significance for cardiovascular disease assessment. Concerning heart failure, their value is for diagnostic screening in selected/unselected populations, for differential diagnosis of dyspnea and for prognostic stratification, and as a guide for follow-up and treatment of patients. Recent Italian recommendations pointed out that BNP/NT-proBNP has a role in ruling-out the diagnosis of heart failure in patients with dubious signs/symptoms: plasma BNP/NT-proBNP concentrations help in the clinical evaluation of chronic heart failure patients when risk stratification is needed, whereas the routine BNP/NT-proBNP assay is still not recommended to guide therapeutic decision-making.
Emdin
M
M
U.O. Medicina Cardiovascolare, Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica del CNR, Pisa. emdin@ifc.cnr.it
Poletti
R
R
Giannoni
A
A
Mazzei
M G
MG
Mammini
C
C
Gabutti
A
A
Agazio
A
A
Caprioli
R
R
Passino
C
C
D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology
D045265:Natriuretic Peptides