GNP Heart Failure
NT-Pro-BNP, (Brain Natriuretic Propeptide) is examined for symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue to determine if heart failure is present and how severe the condition is.
BNP
Brain Natriuremic Peptide is a hormone made by the heart. Among other things, BNP stimulates urine production, which relieves the heart. If the heart is overloaded, BNP levels rise. With normal BNP, the risk of heart failure is very low.
BNP is a protein and is secreted by muscle cells in the ventricles when the ventricles are under increased pressure for long periods of time. If the BNP level in the blood is low, one can say with some certainty that heart failure is not present. If the BNP level is high, additional testing for heart failure will be required.
BNP was first demonstrated in pig brain but is primarily a cardiac hormone. So the B of "Brain" is actually wrong.
Elevated values occur in women on hormone treatment and in renal failure/dialysis patients. This test is mainly used to distinguish the difference between heart failure and other diseases with similar symptoms, such as shortness of breath, shortness of breath, shortness of breath and the (very) frightening feeling of "shortness of air. Shortness of breath is often experienced as a very threatening feeling and can have many causes.
It is important to note that a number of conditions affect the value of the determinations such as: COPD, atrial fibrillation and renal function disorders that can cause moderately elevated BNP. Normal values then rule out heart failure, elevated values necessitate additional diagnostics (cardiac echo) to establish the diagnosis. Obesity, certain medications (diuretics, RAAS inhibitors, statins) may suppress BNP elevation. Severely elevated values of BNP and/or NT-pro-BNP may indicate heart failure. The higher the values, the more severe the heart failure.
Never doctor yourself but see your doctor with these symptoms.
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