title: Circulating natriuretic peptide levels in acute heart failure.
abstract: Natriuretic peptide (NPs) levels have achieved worldwide acceptance. They are excellent rule-in and rule-out biomarkers for patients presenting with dyspnea. In the hospital, NP levels may represent altered forms of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), including the inactive precursor molecule, pro-BNP. NP levels drop during hospitalization as the patient is decongested. In the future, NP levels may be used as a surrogate to titrate outpatient therapy.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Care Unit and Heart Failure Program, San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maisel
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D000208:Acute Disease; D000465:Algorithms; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D052177:Kidney Diseases, Cystic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000503:physiopathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain