B-type natriuretic peptide levels: diagnostic and prognostic in congestive heart failure: what's next?

Although major advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of congestive heart failure (CHF) have resulted in treatments that lead to symptomatic improvement and longer life, CHF still remains a major clinical challenge, especially in the areas of diagnosis, prognosis, and risk stratification. For the first time since the introduction of echocardiography some 20 years ago, a simple blood test appears to offer a significant advance in these areas.