Volume 15, Number 4, July-August 2008

Cost-effectiveness and use of natriuretic peptides in clinical practice – do we have enough evidence yet?
Ahmet Fuat

Clinicians find heart failure difficult to diagnose.1 Confirmation of left ventricular dysfunction (systolic or diastolic) is only possible by cardiac imaging. Recent European Society of Cardiology guidelines and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance have suggested that B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)/N-terminal prohormone BNP (NT proBNP) and electrocardiography be used as a diagnostic tool that supports general practitioners (GPs) in their assessment of patients with suspected heart failure.2,3 Despite inclusion in guidelines2,3 uptake of BNP or NT proBNP use has been slow in the National Health Service (NHS).

Br J Cardiol 2008;15:179–80.

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