Natriuretic peptides in heart failure: should therapy be guided by BNP levels?

Michelle O'Donoghue; Eugene Braunwald

doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2009.197

Natriuretic peptides in heart failure: should therapy be guided by BNP levels?

Nat Rev Cardiol. 2010 Jan;7(1):13-20. doi: 10.1038/nrcardio.2009.197. Epub 2009 Nov 24.

Authors

Michelle O'Donoghue¹, Eugene Braunwald

Affiliation

¹ TIMI Study Group, Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

PMID: 19935742
DOI: 10.1038/nrcardio.2009.197

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Testing for natriuretic peptide markers, such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP), has emerged as an important tool for the diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with HF. However, questions remain regarding the potential role for natriuretic peptides to guide therapy in patients with HF. In this Review, we address the underlying assumptions and the existing evidence supporting a natriuretic-peptide-guided approach to the outpatient management of HF.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Animals
Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
Diuretics / therapeutic use
Heart Failure / blood
Heart Failure / diagnosis
Heart Failure / drug therapy*
Humans
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / therapeutic use
Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / blood*
Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / drug effects
Prognosis
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Spironolactone / therapeutic use

Substances

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Antihypertensive Agents
Diuretics
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists
Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
Spironolactone