BNP Interpretation

BNP and NT-proBNP are signals of ventricular wall stress, not standalone diagnoses. They are most useful when a patient has symptoms such as dyspnea and the clinician is deciding whether heart failure is contributing. A low acute-care result can make acute heart failure unlikely; an elevated result requires clinical interpretation because many cardiac and non-cardiac conditions raise the concentration. Before interpreting the number, identify the analyte, the acute versus ambulatory setting, the patient’s age, renal function, body mass index, cardiac rhythm, and current medications. Use the result to support examination, electrocardiography, laboratory assessment, and echocardiography. A severely unwell patient is assessed and treated according to oxygenation, work of breathing, perfusion, and suspected cause; waiting for a peptide result must never delay resuscitation or escalation.