title: Natriuretic peptide determinations in critical care medicine: part of routine clinical practice or research test only?
abstract: Measurement of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide has been shown a good rule-out test for cardiac dysfunction in patients in the intensive care unit. The peptide measurement should not be used as a replacement for other forms of monitoring, and performs best as a diagnostic test when interpreted together with other clinical findings and investigations. At a cutoff value similar to that found in other clinical studies in acute decompensated heart failure, measurement of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide offers an additional tool for diagnostic assessment of patients presenting to the intensive care physician.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, St George's Hospital and Medical School, London, UK. paul.collinson@stgeorges.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Paul O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Collinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000032:analysis*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain