Description
B-type natriuretic peptide is the only cardiac natriuretic peptide common to all
vertebrate species thus far examined. The plasma BNP level
is used as a robust and reliable biomarker for the diagnosis
and prognosis of heart failure. BNP was isolated in 1988 from porcine brain extracts
and was thus named the brain natriuretic peptide. Soon
thereafter, BNP was found to be expressed abundantly in
the cardiac ventricle and scarcely in the brains of humans
and rats. Currently, BNP has been recognized as a principal cardiac hormone and referred to as the B-type natriuretic peptide.
Clinical Use
The severity of CHF assessed by the New York Heart
Association (NYHA) functional classification is correlated positively with the elevation of plasma BNP and
NT-proBNP levels. Therefore, these peptides are used
for the diagnosis and management of patients with
CHF. The use of a recombinant BNP, nesiritide, for treatment has been approved by the US Food and Drug
Administration. It has beneficial effects in patients with
acute, decompensated heart failure; however, it is
reported to increase the risk of renal dysfunction and
mortality. Further evaluation is required for the clinical
use of nesiritide.
References
1. Ziskoven D, Forssmann WG, Holthausen U, Menz G, Addicks K, Rippegater G: Calcium Calmodulinantagonists Influences the release of Cardiodilatin/ANP from Atrial Cardiocytes. Handbook Endocrinology of the Heart, edited by Kaufmann W, Wambach G, 01/1989; Springer Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York;2. Maisel A, Krishnaswamy P, Nowak R, McCord J, Hollander J, Duc P, Omland T, Storrow A, Abraham W, Wu A, Clopton P, Steg P, Westheim A, Knudsen C, Perez A, Kazanegra R, Herrmann H, McCullough P (2002). "Rapid measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide in the emergency diagnosis of heart failure". N Engl J Med 347 (3): 161–7.3. O'Connor CM, Starling RC, Hernandez AF, et al. Effect of nesiritide in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. TheNew Englandjournal of medicine 2011;365:32-43.