Evaluating the evidence for assessing BNP and NT-proBNP levels.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an overview of 5 systematic reviews in this issue of Clinical Biochemistry addressing the diagnostic and prognostic power of natriuretic peptides.


METHODS
Editorial.


RESULTS
Limited quality of the primary studies and the large variability in their results limit the inferences that can be drawn from reviews in this series.


CONCLUSIONS
The current data justify neither enthusiastic use, nor confident rejection, of BNP and NT-proBNP levels to inform the prognosis or diagnosis of heart failure.
Busse
J W
JW
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Bassler
D
D
Guyatt
G H
GH
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000032:analysis*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain