Plasma B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Ambulatory Patients With Established Chronic Symptomatic Systolic Heart Failure

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background— The diagnostic and prognostic values of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) testing are established. However, the range of plasma BNP levels present in the setting of chronic, stable systolic heart failure (HF) is unclear. Methods and Results— We followed up 558 consecutive ambulatory patients with chronic, stable systolic HF (left ventricular ejection fraction Conclusions— In the ambulatory care setting, both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with chronic, stable systolic HF may present with a wide range of plasma BNP levels. In a subset of symptomatic patients (up to 21% in our cohort), plasma BNP levels are below what would be considered “diagnostic” (<100 pg/mL).