Background: A common denominator of many cardiac diseases is increased intracardiac pressure and wall stretch. This is accompanied by increased secretion from the heart of cardiac natriuretic peptides ANP and BNP and the N-terminal part of their prohormones (Nt-proANP, Nt-pro-BNP).
Material and methods: Current evidence for the utility of cardiac natriuretic peptide measurements for diagnosis and follow-up of cardiac disease is reviewed.
Results: Published literature clearly indicates the usefulness of this kind of testing to the clinician diagnosing heart failure and estimating long-term prognosis. The value of repeated measurements for monitoring and tailoring of cardiac therapy is still under evaluation.
Interpretation: Cardiac natriuretic peptides are biochemical markers of cardiac function. Measurement of these peptides seems to be a significant diagnostic advancement. The precise role of this method in everyday clinical practice remains to be fully delineated.