The application of combined detection of the NT-proBNP and cTnI in the diagnosis and treatment of acute heart failure patients

Objective To investigate the application of combined detection of the N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin I(cTnI) in the diagnosis and treatment of acute heart failure(HF) patients in emergency department.Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent fluorescence assay was used to determine plasma NT-proBNP and cTnI levels in 708 patients with cardiovascular diseases(195 patients with HF and 513 patients with non-HF).According to the New York Heart Association(NYHA) cardiac function grades,the HF patients were classified into Grade Ⅰ-Ⅳ.The results were expressed by medians(quartiles).The results were analyzed statistically.Results The levels of NT-proBNP and cTnI in HF group were 3 718(1 035-12 258) ng/L and 7.18(2.05-14.16) μg/L,respectively,which were significantly higher than those in non-HF group [145(30-585) ng/L for NT-proBNP and 0.66(0.06-1.99) μg/L for cTnI,P0.01].Statistical significance was also observed when comparing NT-proBNP and cTnI levels of the patients with HF at NYHA Grade Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ(P0.05).Furthermore,the sensitivity(99%) and specificity(90%) for the diagnosis of HF with the combined detection of NT-proBNP and cTnI were much higher than those with either the detection of NT-proBNP or cTnI alone(P0.05).Conclusions The combined detection of NT-proBNP and cTnI has valuable significance in the diagnosis and treatment of HF in emergency department.