Educational Recommendations on Selected Analytical and Clinical Aspects of Natriuretic Peptides with a Focus on Heart Failure: A Report from the IFCC Committee on Clinical Applications of Cardiac Bio-Markers

Abstract

The IFCC Committee on Clinical Applications of Cardiac Bio-Markers (C-CB) has directives and initiatives focused on providing evidence-based educational resources to aid and improve understanding around key analytical and clinical aspects of cardiac biomarkers used in clinical practice and the research setting. As a task force, we have previously published position statements and recommendations focused on use and analytical aspects of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays. The current educational document is the first from the C-CB highlighting important biochemical, analytical, and clinical aspects as they relate to the natriuretic peptides (NPs), including B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), with a focus on heart failure.