Abstract

ACLE, Santiago; VALVERDE, Marcelo; ORMAECHEA, Gabriela  and  GRUPO UMIC. NT-Pro BNP: Biologic marker used for the monitoring of the clinical status and therapy guideline in outpatients with advanced heart failure. Arch. Med Int [online]. 2010, vol.32, n.1, pp.5-8. ISSN 0250-3816.

Multiple international studies have demonstrated the clinical utility of B- type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the amino terminal fraction of BNP (NT-proBNP) in the diagnosis of Heart Failure (HF), especially in patients who present in the emergency department with dyspnea of unknown etiology. This high sensitivity test, shows significant predictive values and functions as a screening tool for ventricular dysfunction that is correlated with clinical parameters and echocardiographic findings. Recent evidence shows that BNP and NT-proBNP have an important role in clinical follow up of ambulatory patients as prognostic markers, predictors of hospitalizations and predictors of cardiovascular events. In addition, they are a useful tool to optimize pharmacologic treatment and to define the utility of non-pharmacological therapeutic measures. We present our experience on this issue through the analysis of a study which primary objective was to assess the utility of NT-proBNP as a biological marker in clinical monitoring and as a therapeutic guide in patients with Sistolic Heart Failure (SHF).

Keywords : Heart failure; Natriuretic peptides; Clinical stage; Therapeutic guide.

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