B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP): a new tool in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the most common cause of hospitalization among patients age 65 and older and is the fourth leading cause of hospitalization in the U.S. Advances in medical, surgical, and mechanical therapies have improved symptoms and survival for heart failure patients. Unfortunately, the accurate diagnosis of CHF is often difficult. A serum assay that could accurately and inexpensively detect and differentiate CHF from other causes of dyspnea would be helpful in identifying patients with heart failure. Such an assay has been developed for B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and this simple blood test is likely to have an important role in the diagnosis of CHF. This article reviews some of the pathophysiology of CHF and BNP, as well as the data supporting the use of this marker for the diagnosis of heart failure.