Effect of Renal Dysfunction on Plasma Natriuretic Peptides Levels

The recognition of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N- terminal prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as markers for the diagnosis, prognosis and management of heart failure has been a major breakthrough in the field of medicine. A head to head comparison of the two heart failure markers is discussed in this book to understand its clinical utility in patients with impaired kidney function. While it is known that both BNP and NT-proBNP have a place in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of heart failure, the two molecules are not identical. Differences that may have clinical relevance are related to excretion, as well as the differences in half-life. Having an inverse relationship with glomerular filtration rate, higher BNP and NT-proBNP cutoffs are recommended by the author to diagnose heart failure in chronic kidney disease patients.