B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)

Heart failure is the progressive inability of the heart ventricles to pump blood out to the lungs and/or the extremities. BNP is synthesised and released into the blood in response to volume overload or conditions that cause ventricular stretch to control fluid and electrolyte homeostasis by interaction with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Numerous studies have indicated that BNP can be used for patient diagnosis, prognosis and therapy monitoring. Levels have been shown to be elevated in patients with cardiac dysfunction.

Diagnosis and subsequent monitoring of established heart failure as a function of decreasing physiological functional capacity (compared with left ventricular ejection fraction, exercise-based assessment, etc.) BNP has utility in the stratification of patients with heart failure and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Elevated levels of BNP in heart failure patients predict disease progression and increased morbidity and mortality.“Studies also suggest ACS patients with increased BNP levels have a higher rate of cardiac complications and higher mortality post myocardial infarction"

Please note that BNP cannot be requested as an add-on test and should be analysed within 6 hours of sample collection.