What are B-Type Natriuretic Peptides (BNPs)?
Originally called Brain Natriuretic Peptide because it was isolated from brain, this peptide hormone was later discovered to be produced by ventricles in response to increases in wall tension. Its name has been updated to B-type Natriuretic Peptide (as distinct from Atrial Natriuretic Peptide, ANP). The circulating concentration for BNP is about 20% of ANP in normal subjects, but can exceed that of ANP in patients with heart failure. It is this responsiveness of BNP that makes it a valuable diagnostic tool in assessing the etiology of dyspnea of unknown etiology. B-Type Natriuretic Peptides are increased in patients with heart failure, and the levels increase in proportion to the degree of left ventricular dysfunction.
