Jul 27, 2006 - Previously published online at DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2005.064386 ..... screening program combining Doppler ultrasound tech- niques with a ...
Papers in Press. First published July 27, 2006 as doi:10.1373/clinchem.2005.064386
Clinical Chemistry 52:9 000 – 000 (2006)
Point-of-Care Testing
Rapid Brain Natriuretic Peptide Test and Doppler Echocardiography for Early Diagnosis of Mild Heart Failure Nadia Aspromonte,1* Vincenzo Ceci,1 Antonella Chiera,1 Claudio Coletta,1 Alessandra D’Eri,2 Mauro Feola,3 Prospero Giovinazzo,2 Loredano Milani,2 Federica Noventa,2 Angela Beatrice Scardovi,1 Augusto Sestili,1 and Roberto Valle2
Background: The early identification of patients at risk for the development of clinical heart failure (HF) is a new challenge in an effort to improve outcomes. Methods: We prospectively evaluated whether the combination of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements (Triage BNP test, Biosite Diagnostics) and echocardiography would effectively stratify patients with new symptoms in a cost-effective HF program aimed to early diagnosis of mild HF. A total of 252 patients were referred by 100 general practitioners. Results: Among the study population, the median BNP value was 78 ng/L (range, 5–1491 ng/L). BNP concentrations were lower among subjects without heart disease [(median 15 ng/L (range, 5–167 ng/L); n ⴝ 96)] than among patients with confirmed HF [median, 165 ng/L (22–1491 ng/L); n ⴝ 157; Mann–Whitney U-test, 12.3; P
