N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide: A Powerful Biomarker of Cardiac Disease

Abstract

Cardiac B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-brain BNP (NT-proBNP) have emerged as powerful diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in heart disease. Clinical applications that are under ongoing investigation include use as a diagnostic test for the presence of heart failure in the newly symptomatic patient, risk stratification for prognosis in both recent cardiac decompensation and in chronic heart failure, prognosis after acute coronary events, monitoring and adjustment of therapy in heart failure, and screening of asymptomatic at risk populations for significant cardiac impairment and risk stratification. In addition, an emerging body of reports suggests that plasma NT-proBNP measurements may have prognostic usefulness in conditions other than heart failure and acute coronary syndromes. This supplement provides the Proceedings of the 2nd International symposium on NT-proBNP that was held in Budapest on May 14 and 15, 2004. The symposium addressed the use of biomarker monitoring in a variety of cardiovascular disease conditions.