NT-ProBNP Test

What is NT-proBNP?

NT-proBNP is a fragment of a hormone produced by your heart. If your heart is stressed or in poor function, it secretes more of this hormone into your blood. A test for the level of NT-proBNP helps doctors determine the severity of heart failure and other heart disorders.

Why Is the NT-proBNP Test Done?

The NT-proBNP test is performed primarily to:

• Heart Failure Diagnosis: Find out if the breathing trouble is because of heart failure.
• Severity Check: Find out how severe the heart failure is.
• Treatment Monitoring: Find out how well the heart failure treatment is working.
• Prognosis Prediction: Guess the risk of future cardiovascular events.

When Should You Need the NT-proBNP Test?

Your doctor might send you for the test if you experience:

• Trouble breathing
• Fatigue
• Swelling in legs and abdomen
• Coughing frequently
• Difficulty sleeping in a horizontal position

These symptoms can be symptoms of heart failure or other cardiac illnesses.

How Is the Test Done?

The NT-proBNP test is a rapid blood test:

• Preparation: No special preparation is needed.
• Procedure: A health worker draws a blood sample from a vein in your arm.
• Duration: It takes only a few minutes.
• Results: Typically available within a day or two.

What Do the Results Mean?

NT-proBNP levels are in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). Normal values vary with age and other conditions:

• < 75 years: < 125 pg/mL
• ≥ 75 years: < 450 pg/mL

High levels may indicate heart failure or other heart conditions. However, levels are influenced by other conditions like kidney function, age, and obesity.

Factors that Influence NT-proBNP Levels

Certain factors may influence NT-proBNP levels:

• Age: Levels increase naturally with age.
• Kidney Function: Diseased kidneys raise NT-proBNP.
• Obesity: May produce decreased NT-proBNP.
• Medications: Certain medications affect hormone levels.

Tests Associated

Depending on your signs and symptoms and NT-proBNP levels, your doctor may perform additional tests:

• Echocardiogram: Heart ultrasound to assess structure and function.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): Traces electrical activity of the heart.
• Chest X-ray: Tests for heart enlargement or fluid in the lungs.
• Blood Tests: Screen kidney function, thyroid hormone level, and other markers.

The NT-proBNP test is an effective test in the diagnosis and management of cardiac conditions. With knowledge of your NT-proBNP level, you and your physician can make sound decisions about your cardiac health.