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Minerva Medica 2005 April;96(2):77-86

Copyright © 2005 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Brain natriuretic peptide and heart failure

Camici M.

Heart failure is analysed following the recent classification (prognostic and symptomatic: 4 stages) proposed by the American Heart Association (AHA). The study is focused on the first stage (Stage A) of the AHA classification where the patient is asymptomatic, without heart structural abnormalities but at risk to develop heart failure. In Stage A neurohumural mechanisms of heart failure such as natriuretic peptide system are activated. The author analyses the links between heart failure and the natriuretic peptide system and the role played by the plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide as biomarker of heart failure in Stage A.