[Experiences with serum BNP (B type natriuretic peptide) in patients with systolic and diastolic heart failure].

Current study confirms and extends recent observations concerning the diagnostic usefulness of B type natriuretic peptide. It discriminates well between dyspnea of cardiac and non-cardiac origin in the unselected population. Echocardiography represents useful diagnostic tool for assessment of systolic and diastolic ventricular function. In diastolic heart failure the elasticity of left chamber decreases due to the increase of the filling pressure. B type natriuretic peptide predominantly derived from the atrial tissue in patients with chronic heart failure. In the literature contradictory data has been found about serum B type natriuretic peptide level and diastolic dysfunction in cases with good left ventricular function. Authors reviewed 35-34 unselected patients with chronic systolic and isolated diastolic dysfunction. The serum B type natriuretic peptide level increased significantly in all the systolic heart failure patients, while, in patients with isolated diastolic heart failure the values were increased only cases with increased atrial value (calculated to the body surface).