Natriuretic peptide determinations in critical care medicine: part of routine clinical practice or research test only?
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Correspondence: Paul O Collinson paul.collinson@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Department of Chemical Pathology and Department of Cardiology, St George's Hospital and Medical School, London SW17 0QT, UK
Critical Care 2009, 13:105 doi:10.1186/cc7133
Published: 12 January 2009Abstract
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.