The interpretation of brain natriuretic peptide in critical care patients; will it ever be useful?
The measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is recommended for the diagnosis of decompensated heart failure, the prognosis of chronic heart failure is worse if BNP is increased and studies suggest that BNP is useful to guide therapy. A study by Di Somma and colleagues adds to the body of evidence showing that patients with a marked decrease in BNP concentrations during their hospital admission are less likely to be readmitted with a further adverse cardiac event than patients in whom BNP fails to decrease. However, the wider interpretation of BNP concentrations in critically ill patients with other conditions remains uncertain.
Dixon
John
J
General Intensive Care, St George's Hospital NHS Trust, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0QT, UK.
Philips
Barbara
B
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016638:Critical Illness; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain