Brain natriuretic peptide in the contemporary management of congestive heart failure

Abstract

Brain natriuretic peptide is a cardiac neurohormone that is secreted by the left ventricle in response to an increase in wall stress. Brain natriuretic peptide has emerged as a neurohormone with multiple roles in heart failure management. This review will discuss the role of brain natriuretic peptide in heart failure diagnosis, prognostic assessment, screening for asymptomatic left-ventricular dysfunction, and in the treatment of heart failure.

Keywords::

• brain natriuretic peptide
• diagnosis
• echocardiography
• heart failure
• screening
• treatment