Background. N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a hormone involved in the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis. Changes in serum NT-proBNP during large volume paracentesis (LVP) in patients with ascites have never before been examined. Aims. To determine if significant changes in serum NT-proBNP occur in patients undergoing LVP and the associated clinical correlates in pa...

BACKGROUND NT-proBNP measurements aid in the evaluation of patients with suspected heart failure (HF) and may facilitate risk stratification in patients with HF and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Point-of-care (POC) assays may provide more timely results and potentially improve patient outcomes. METHODS We evaluated the analytical performance of the Response Biomedical Corporation whole blood...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the accuracy of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for the diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) in dyspneic patients aged >or=85 years admitted to the Emergency Department (ED), and to define threshold values in this oldest-old population. DESIGN AND METHODS This study involved 210 oldest-old patients, an...

The natriuretic peptides, especially the B-type peptide (BNP) and its inactive split-product N-terminal proBNP (Nt-proBNP) are increasingly used in screening for heart failure, primarily with reduced systolic function, in patients with symptoms suggestive of heart failure, as well in the stable (General Practitioner) setting as in the acute setting. Supporting this use is a very strong prognost...

BACKGROUND The prognostic value of natriuretic peptides in aortic stenosis (AS) remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal BNP (NtBNP), and N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide (NtANP) were determined in 130 patients with severe AS (mean age, 70+/-12 years; mean gradient, 64+/-21 mm Hg; valve area, 0.64+/-0.15 cm2) who were followed up for 377+/-150 day...

BACKGROUND Cardiac-derived natriuretic peptides are sensitive plasma markers of cardiac dysfunction. Recent reports have disclosed a more complex molecular heterogeneity of B-type natriuretic peptide precursor (proBNP)-derived peptides than previously suggested. In this study, we examined the impact of epitope specificity and precursor maturation on plasma measurement of proBNP-derived peptides...

BACKGROUND The purpose of the present study was to assess the short-term effects of positive pressure ventilation (PPV) on plasma amino terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and sleep apnea (SA). METHODS AND RESULTS Polysomnography was performed in 105 CHF patients. Twenty-six patients with CHF and SA were randomly assigned t...

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) plasma levels are commonly high at the early phase of septic shock and have been suggested to be prognostic markers for this condition. It is uncertain, however, whether this increase reflects sepsis related cardiac dysfunction. In a recent issue of Critical Care, Mokart and coworkers showed the accuracy of NT-proBNP in pre...