[The role of biomarkers in the evaluation of the patient with dyspnea, chest pain or syncope].

This paper reviews the use of 3 biomarkers, BNP (brain natriuretic peptide), troponins and D-dimers, in 3 common clinical situations: the patient presenting with dyspnea, with chest pain or with syncope. The diagnostic utility and the pronostic implications of a positive as well as a negative test are reviewed according the most recent medical literature. Interpretation of false positive and false negative results is also discussed. Familiarity with the use of these tests is increasingly important because practicioners will be soon provided with rapid bed-side multi-markers assays to help them in their differential diagnosis while examining the patient.