A study of Brain Natriuretic Peptide levels in acute cardiac failure

Background: The clinical diagnosis of heart failure may be difficult and may pose a particular challenge in patients presenting with acute shortness of breath (SOB) in the emergency department (ED). The present study was done to identify easily the heart failure patients and their prognostication by doing BNP level. Materials and methods: The study group consisted of patients 50 patients presenting to the hospital with acute cardiac failure diagnosed on the basis of Framingham Criteria and excluded the patients with creatinine level >2mg/dl. Results: We found high BNP levels in patients with high NYHA class of failure, high CPKMB value, more LVEDD, low ejection fraction, diastolic dysfunction and mortality is also high in those patients. Conclusion: This study showed higher value of BNP level in patients with low ejaction fraction, with diastolic dysfunction, with higher NYHA class and with higher mortality. We can recognize the importance of BNP level as a marker of both diagnostic and prognostic significance. The value of such an investigation in the overall treatment of acute Dyspnea on Exertion in the emergency department cannot be understated. BNP levels can help doctors in the ED to both effectively and conclusively diagnose and prognosticate heart failure.