The use of natriuretic peptides in the intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
B-type natriuretic peptides are quantitative markers of heart failure (and/or cardiac stress) that summarize the extent of systolic and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction, valvular dysfunction, and right ventricular dysfunction. Based on the observation that heart failure is common albeit difficult to diagnose in the ICU, several studies have begun to evaluate the potential use of B-type natriuretic peptides in various ICU settings.


RESULTS
Previous pilot studies have examined the use of B-type natriuretic peptide in the differential diagnosis of hypoxemic respiratory failure, to differentiate cardiogenic from noncardiogenic shocks or to predict fluid responsiveness, to assess myocardial dysfunction and prognosis in patients with severe sepsis, and to predict ventilatory weaning failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Although previous studies were small, they highlight the potential of using B-type natriuretic peptides as a noninvasive easily available tool to quantify cardiac stress.
Pirracchio
Romain
R
University Paris 7 Diderot, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France.
Logeart
Damien
D
Noveanu
Markus
M
Mebazaa
Alexandre
A
Mueller
Christian
C
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain