[The diagnostic application of bedside measurement of plasma brain natriuretic in patients with heart failure].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate differential diagnoses value of ultra-rapid bedside measurement of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with dyspnea.

METHODS

Plasma BNP concentration were measured with immunofluorescence assay in 103 patients with dyspnea. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were determined by echocardiography and Swan-Ganz catheter in these patients on the same time, respectively.

RESULTS

(1) Plasma BNP levels in the patients with heart failure were higher than those in the non-heart failure patients [(716 +/- 86 vs 46 +/- 7) ng/L, P < 0.01]. (2) The sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive values of Plasma BNP levels > or = 100 pg/ml for predicting heart failure were 95.2% (60/63), 93.0% (40/43) and 97.1% (100/103), respectively. (3) Plasma BNP levels were positively related to PCWP, and negatively related to LVEF (r = -0.56, both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Bedside BNP assay is sensitive and specific for diagnosing heart failure, and is useful in evaluating dyspnea in emergency care.