心臟衰竭的生化指標－－BNP與NT-proBNP之臨床運用

Biomarkers in Heart Failure: BNP and NT-proBNP

心臟衰竭的生化指標－－BNP與NT-proBNP之臨床運用在過去數十年，被診斷為心臟衰竭病患逐年增加。在臨床上，心臟衰竭的病患其臨床表徵多不專一也不典型，不易與它病區分，再加上心臟衰竭的病患有極高的住院率，所以是否有專一的指標可以較明確的確認心臟衰竭的診斷，或是是否可以為心臟衰竭的處理照護做一好的指引，就是一相當重要的課題。雖然BNP/NT-proBNP並無法符合所有理想的生化指標的每一項條件，但是無可否認的，它在對於心臟衰竭病患的篩檢或是病程的確立上扮演了很重要的角色。

Used as biomarkers of heart failure (HF), BNP and NT-proBNP may be considered as the 'fatal finish line' for all cardiovascular disorders. The incidence of heart failure has increased steadily over the past several decades. High readmission rates for patients with acute decompensated heart failure have led to a search for biomarkers able to predict future clinical outcomes that would facilitate HF patient monitoring and help guide therapy. Molecular biomarkers play an important role in heart failure. From among several promising markers, the family of natriuretic peptides, especially B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and NT-proBNP, have been identified as potentially valuable diagnostic and prognostic tools. Not unexpectedly, BNP/NT-proBNP fails to fulfill all the criteria of an ideal biomarker. The development of additional biomarkers will be an important step toward improving diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic and acute decompensated heart failure.