Type of test Blood

Normal findings

ANP: 22-77 pg/mL or 22-77 ng/L (SI units)

BNP: < 100 pg/mL

CNP: Yet to be determined

NT-pro-BNP: < 300 pg/mL

 Critical values

BNP: > 400 pg/mL (Heart failure likely)

Test explanation and related physiology

 Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are used to identify and stratify patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). NPs are neuroendocrine peptides that oppose the activity of the renin-angiotensin system. There are three major NPs: ANP, BNP, and CNP. BNP has been implicated in the pathophysiology of hypertension, congestive heart failure (CHF), and atherosclerosis. BNP is released in response to atrial and ventricular stretch, respectively. BNP, in particular, correlates well to left ventricular pressures. As a result, BNP is a good marker for CHF. The higher the levels of BNP are, the more severe the CHF. This test is used in urgent care settings to aid in the differential diagnosis of shortness of breath (SOB). If BNP is elevated, the SOB is because of CHF. If BNP levels are normal, the SOB is pulmonary and not cardiac. This is particularly helpful in evaluating SOB in patients with cardiac and chronic lung disease.

Furthermore, BNP is a helpful prognosticator and is used in CHF risk stratification. CHF patients whose BNP levels do not rapidly return to normal with treatment experience a significantly higher risk for mortality in the ensuing months than do those whose BNP levels rapidly normalize with treatment. In early rejection of heart transplants, BNP levels can be elevated.

In some laboratories, BNP is measured as an N-terminal fragment of pro-brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP). Screening diabetics for BNP elevation to determine the risk for cardiac diseases is helpful. BNP is also elevated in patients with prolonged systemic hypertension and in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Interfering factors

• BNP levels are generally higher in healthy women than healthy men.

 • BNP levels are higher in older patients.

 • BNP levels are elevated for 1 month postoperatively in patients who have had cardiac surgery.

 • There are several different methods of measuring BNP. Normal values vary whether or not the whole protein of a BNP fragment protein is measured.

* Natrecor (nesiritide), a recombination form of the endogenous human peptide used to treat CHF, will increase plasma BNP levels for several days.

 Procedure and patient care

 • See inside front cover for Routine Blood Testing.

• Fasting: no

• Blood tube commonly used: lavender

 Abnormal findings

Increased levels

- Congestive heart failure

- Myocardial infarction

- Systemic hypertension

- Cor pulmonale

- Heart transplant rejection

اخر الاخبار

اخبار العتبة العباسية المقدسة

مجلة تسليم تدعو الباحثين والأكاديميين للمشاركة في أعدادها القادمة

المجمع العلمي يواصل إقامة محاضراته الأسبوعية في مقام الإمام المهدي (عجل الله فرجه)

جامعة الكفيل تطلق الدورة التدريبية الصيفية لطلبة كلية الهندسة التقنية

استعدادًا لزيارة الأربعين العتبة العباسية المقدسة تعقد الورشة التنسيقية الرابعة الخاصة بمراكز إرشاد التائهين

المزيد

الآخبار الصحية

دراسة علمية تكشف مفاجأة حول الأسباب الحقيقية للسمنة

دراسة: الأطباء يتجاهلون "سببا شائعا" لارتفاع ضغط الدم

نظامك الغذائي غني بالبروتين؟.. احذر هذه الآثار الجانبية

لا تتجاهلها.. أعراض تنذرك بأنك مهدد بالإصابة بالسكري

المزيد

الآخبار التكنلوجية

ISOFIX: معيار الأمان الذهبي لمقاعد الأطفال في السيارات

هل المحرك الأكبر دائمًا الأفضل للسيارة؟

اختبارات ناجحة لمحرك "VK-800" الروسي وتطويره لطائرة بايكال الخفيفة

رئيس إنفيديا: الذكاء الاصطناعي الصيني "محفز للتقدم العالمي"

المزيد

مواضيع ذات صلة

newborn metabolic screening

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE)

Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies, IgG and IgM

mononucleosis rapid test (Mononuclear heterophil test, Heterophil antibody test, Monospot test)

microglobulin (Beta2-microglobulin [β2m], Alpha-1-microglobulin, Retinol binding protein)

Immunoelectrophoresis

Graded Agglutination Reactions

Blood Group Antigens

Evaluation of Platelet Function In Vitro with PFA-100

Platelet Alterations

microalbumin (MA)

methylated septin 9 DNA (mSEPT9, ColoVantage)