Natriuretic peptide determinations in critical care medicine: part of routine clinical practice or research test only?

doi:10.1186/cc7133

Critical Care

Volume 13
Issue 1

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Commentary

Natriuretic peptide determinations in critical care medicine: part of routine clinical practice or research test only?

Paul O Collinson

Department of Chemical Pathology and Department of Cardiology, St George's Hospital and Medical School, London SW17 0QT, UK

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2009, 13:105doi:10.1186/cc7133


Published:	12 January 2009

See related research by Coquet et al., http://ccforum.com/content/12/6/R137

Abstract

Measurement of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide has been shown a good rule-out test for cardiac dysfunction in patients in the intensive care unit. The peptide measurement should not be used as a replacement for other forms of monitoring, and performs best as a diagnostic test when interpreted together with other clinical findings and investigations. At a cutoff value similar to that found in other clinical studies in acute decompensated heart failure, measurement of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide offers an additional tool for diagnostic assessment of patients presenting to the intensive care physician.