What is the diagnostic use of the Natriuretic Peptide type B?
Natriuretic peptide type B is a substance secreted by the chambers of the heart in response to the heart tension. It has an important physiological role in lowering blood pressure and salt content in the body. Natriuretic type B levels are increased in the blood of patients with heart failure; Therefore, these levels are commonly measured for heart failure diagnosis, heart failure monitoring and distinguishing heart failure from other disease conditions. It consists of 32 amino acids and is made of pro-BNP progenitor species. Type B peptide was originally discovered as a product of the brain, but was later identified as a substance produced by the chambers of the heart. Normal BNP levels in serum are less than 100 picograms per milliliter.
Understanding BNP physiological function helps in understanding why BNP level measurements can be clinically used for diagnostic purposes. The heart chambers exclude BNP in response to high blood flow, high pressures and strong heart contractions. The excreted BNP promotes low blood pressure, the relaxation of the blood vessels,Increased secretion of salt in urine and increased urination. It has also been shown that this peptide reduces heart remodeling, a process that has been involved in heart failure.
In patients with heart failure, BNP levels are high. Heart failure is associated with high ventricular padding, high blood flow and strong heart contractile; All these states stimulate the chambers to release BNP. Patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic heart failure usually increased BNP levels in their blood.
One specific use of the BNP level is in the evaluation of patients who press with shortness of breath. Without a strong clinical history, it may be difficult to distinguish the lung causes of shortness of breath, such as chronic obstructive lung disease, from the heart causes of spirit, such as heart failure. Increased BNP levels indicate the heart cause of dyspnoea. It is important to distinguish between heart failure and lung disease, because the treatment of both types of diseases is very different.
Another specific use of Natriuretic Peptide B is to exclude heart disease in asymptomatic patients. Almost all patients with heart failure, even if they are asymptomatic, have an increase in BNP. Patients with normal BNP levels are therefore unlikely to have heart failure, so this measurement can be used to exclude it.
B-type Natriuretic peptide was also used by some doctors to monitor responses to heart failure treatment regimens. With the right heart failure medicines, BNP TS patianlands should be reduced. Some research groups claimed that drug doses can be effectively titrated - or modified - in response to BNP serial levels.