Annals of clinical biochemistry
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Ann. Clin. Biochem. · May 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of NT-proBNP testing on diagnostic certainty in patients admitted to the emergency department with possible heart failure.
Difficulty in distinguishing congestive heart failure (HF) from other causes of dyspnoea in the emergency department (ED) may result in delay in appropriate treatment and referral. Although the diagnostic value of serum amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is well documented, the impact on diagnostic certainty of providing these results to ED physicians is not well studied. We sought to determine the effect of providing NT-proBNP results on diagnostic certainty of physicians managing patients presenting to the ED with suspected HF. ⋯ Measurement of NT-proBNP concentrations reduces diagnostic uncertainty and improves diagnostic accuracy in patients presenting to the ED with dyspnoea and possible HF.