Specimen

2 mL (1 mL min.) Serum from 1 SST. Ship refrigerated or frozen.

Usage

N-terminal precursor of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are released from myocardial cells in response to volume expansion and increased wall tension. They are well established rule-out tools for cardiac disease in unselected communities. NT-proBNP value <125 pg/mL excludes cardiac dysfunction with a high level of certainty in patients presenting with dyspnea. As the value increases heart failure becomes more likely. NT-proBNP levels are correlated with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes for CHF. However, the role of natriuretic peptides extends beyond heart failure diagnosis; it is a clinical support tool in risk stratification & management in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Recent studies have shown that it can also be used for Cardiovascular risk assessment in asymptomatic patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.