The clinical significance of B-type natriuretic peptide rapid assay for the diagnosis of congestive heart failure

Objective To investigate the value of a B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) rapid assay in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure(CHF). Methods Plasma BNP was measured in 174 patients with acute breathe difficulty. 103 patients among them were examined for left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and left ventricular diastolic dimension (LVDD) by echocardiography. Results BNP levels of 140 patients with CHF and 34 patients with pulmonary breathe difficulty were 245 ng/L(5～4 500 ng/L) and (30.8±27.1) ng/L respectively. In patients with CHF, BNP levels were related with the New York Heart Association classification. The plasma BNP levels increased when LVEF reduced and LVDD dilated. The plasma BNP levels of NYHA class Ⅲ and Ⅳ were markedly higher than NYHA class Ⅰ and Ⅱ. Conclusions BNP can reflect the change of left ventricular function, and it might be useful for early diagnosis and prognosis of CHF.