Use of brain natriuretic peptide levels for risk assessment in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes.

Risk assessment of patients with non–ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) plays an important role in determining the prognosis. This enhances the costeffectiveness of patient care by allowing evidence-based treatments (such as antiplatelet, anti-thrombotic, and revascularization therapies) to be targeted at the patients who are most likely to benefit from their use. The clinical history, examination findings, electrocardiographic (ECG) changes, and cardiac troponin levels are all crucial factors in assessing risk (1–8). In patients with NSTEACS, troponin levels predict the likelihood of benefit from treatment with lowmolecular-weight heparins, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists, and early revascularization (9–11).