Recommendations for the use of natriuretic peptides in acute cardiac care: A position statement from the Study Group on Biomarkers in Cardiology of the ESC Working Group on Acute Cardiac Care

摘要

Cardiac biomarkers are integral to the diagnosis and the treatment of acutely ill cardiac patients. The Working Group on Acute Cardiac Care of the European Society of Cardiology has established a Study Group to deal with issues related to cardiac biomarkers in this important area. Biomarkers are used to augment physician skill and judgment. Accordingly, we will outline principles for the application of biomarkers in acute cardiac care in a series of consensus documents; the first was on cardiac troponin (cTn).1 The present review is on natriuretic peptides (NPs) as markers of cardiac stress and heart failure (HF). Natriuretic peptides help diagnostically and provide prognostic information. Most data have been obtained with assays measuring B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP); therefore, the review focuses on these two markers, and it will mention new markers at the end.