[Diagnostic usefulness of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide in patients admitted to a cardiology service].
OBJECTIVE
The N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a new tool for the diagnosis of patients with evidence of heart failure (HF). The diagnosis of HF is improbable in patients with a level of NT-proBNP<300 pg/ml. Our objective is to determine the validity of the cut-off points proposed by literature (inclusion/exclusion) regarding the age for NT-proBNP in patients admitted to our service.


METHODS
We gathered consecutively the data of 76 patients admitted to our service with the diagnosis of HF (n=37) and with other diseases (n=39), taking a sample of plasma to determine NT-proBNP. We studied the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of this test, as well as the relation between the levels of that marker and the clinical and echocardiographic variables.


RESULTS
The ventricular diameter was larger and the ejection fraction was lower in patients with HF. Sensitivity for the diagnosis of exclusion reached a value of 97% and the negative predictive value was 94%.


CONCLUSIONS
The cut-off point proposed for exclusion (300 pg/ml) shows high sensitivity and negative predictive value in the diagnosis of HF in patients admitted to our service.
Farráis Villalba
Marcos
M
Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. farrais1978@yahoo.es
Rodríguez Esteban
Marcos
M
de las Heras
Silvia
S
Facenda Lorenzo
María
M
Ramos López
María
M
Soriano Vela
Estanislao
E
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D002309:Cardiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain