Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) in Differential Diagnosis of Dyspnea

Background: The differentiation of congestive heart failure from pulmonary cause of dyspnea is of extreme importance in patients presenting with acute shortness of breath. It seems that the use of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) can speed up the diagnostic process significantly.

Material And Methods: 79 patients (46 men - 58.2%, average 71.9, range 43-92; 33 women - 41.8%, average 75.5, range 51-93). In each of them we measured BNP concentrations by means of rapid fluorescent immunoassay.

Results: We divided the patients according to BNP results into two groups: BNP positive and BNP negative. There were 28 BNP negative patients -35.40% (13 men, 15 women). BNP positive patients (51) were divided into NYHA I-IV groups in accordance with BNP results.

Conclusion: The rapid, highly sensitive and specific measurement of BNP concentrations in the patients with dyspnea can significantly help to differentiate the cardiac and pulmonary causes of dyspnea (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 24).