International journal of cardiology
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Conventional echocardiography has limited accuracy in detecting diastolic dysfunction and NT-proBNP is known to be a reliable biomarker to rule out heart failure. Therefore NT-proBNP on top to conventional mitral flow Doppler might improve the diagnostic of diastolic dysfunction in patients with heart failure despite normal EF (HFNEF) without using tissue Doppler. ⋯ Plasma NT-proBNP levels are associated with increased LV stiffness and cardiac collagen content. On top measurements of plasma NT-proBNP improve the echocardiography diagnostic of diastolic function and prognostic of rehospitalization in HFNEF.