Journal of internal medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Use of B-type natriuretic peptide in the risk stratification of community-acquired pneumonia.
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading infectious cause of death in developed countries. Risk stratification has previously been difficult. ⋯ In patients with CAP, BNP levels are powerful and independent predictors of death and treatment failure. When used in conjunction with the PSI, BNP levels significantly improve the risk prediction when compared with the PSI alone.