ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to verify the usefulness of NT-proBNP in the differential diagnosis of dyspnea in a population of patients presenting in the ER with breathlessness. DESIGN AND METHODS: In samples from 122 patients presenting in the ER with acute-severe dyspnea and from 25 subjects enrolled as a "comparison group" (NORM), NT-proBNP levels were measured. Patients have been classified on the basis of discharge diagnosis: pulmonary disease (PD, n = 23), pulmonary concomitant to cardiac disease (MIXED, n = 17), pulmonary embolism (EMB, n = 8), cardiac disease (CARD, n = 56), acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n = 11) and other disease (OTHER, n = 7). RESULTS: A significant difference in NT-proBNP values (P Subject(s)
Dyspnea/diagnosis
, Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/blood
, Peptide Fragments/blood
, Adult
, Aged
, Aged, 80 and over
, Diagnosis, Differential
, Dyspnea/etiology
, Female
, Heart Diseases/complications
, Heart Diseases/diagnosis
, Heart Failure/diagnosis
, Humans
, Lung Diseases/complications
, Lung Diseases/diagnosis
, Male
, Middle Aged
, Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis
, Pulmonary Embolism/diagnosis
