Natriuretic peptide testing in primary care patients.
The evaluation of cardiac endocrine function by means of automated robust assays has permitted the introduction of a cheap and powerful clinical tool. Plasma concentration of B-type-related natriuretic peptides is a marker of either hemodynamic or neurohormonal stress on the heart and has been validated within the diagnostic and prognostic domain in patients with suspected or ascertained heart failure, mostly in the in-hospital setting. Evidence is growing, supporting an out-of-hospital use, namely in primary care. Its implementation in this setting in screening programs and diagnostic algorithms might contribute to decrease the apparent disparity between the general practitioner and the specialist approach to disease management.
Emdin
Michele
M
Cardiovascular Medicine Department, G. Monasterio Foundation, CNR Regione Toscana, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy. emdin@ifc.cnr.it
Fontana
Marianna
M
Poletti
Roberta
R
Gabutti
Alessandra
A
Mammini
Chiara
C
Rossi
Andrea
A
Pastormerlo
Luigi Emilio
LE
Masi
Lorenzo
L
Passino
Claudio
C
Clerico
Aldo
A
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011320:Primary Health Care; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
D015415:Biomarkers; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain