Diagnosis of heart failure is too late. Symptoms of heart failure are non-specific. Brain natriuretic peptides allow the diagnosis of heart failure in pauci-symptomatic patients, with a threshold of 35pg/mL for BNP and 125pg/mL for NT-proBNP. Left ventricular dysfunction, either diastolic or systolic, remains asymptomatic for a long time. In diabetic and/or hypertensive patients, natriuretic peptides, can be used to diagnose asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction, with a threshold of 125pg/mL NT-proBNP. Treatment blocking the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in diabetic patients with NT-proBNP levels of 125pg/mL can prevent onset of heart failure. Screening of subjects at risk of heart failure (diabetics, hypertensive) is possible thanks to natriuretic peptides.
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