in emergency room
Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2011; 16: 12
Ozturk TC et al. – NT-pro-brain natriuretic peptide can be used as an easy diagnostic method for congestive heart failure. A certain cut-off value may be determined in further multi-centre controlled trials with larger patient groups.
Methods
-This study was designed as a single-centre, prospective, and controlled trial.
-Blood samples and data were collected from a total of 119 patients with shortness of breath admitted to Emergency Department, School of Medicine, Marmara University.
-Patients were primarily diagnosed with decompensated heart failure according to the Framingham criteria and aged above 18years.
-A total of 92 patients were included in the study after exclusions.
-NT-proBNP measurements were made by immune fluorescent method.
-Available data were compared between hospitalized patients and outpatients.
Results
-NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in hospitalized patients compared to outpatients, and this finding was correlated with the clinical status of the patients.
-The mean NT-proBNP value of the patients was 9741.9±8973pg/ml (range: 245-35000) while the mean NT-proBNP value of patients diagnosed with non-decompensated CHF was 688.9±284.5pg/ml (range: 115-1450.65).