European journal of heart failure
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Jan 2008
B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients with functionally univentricular hearts after total cavopulmonary connection.
To assess plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with univentricular hearts late after volume unloading by total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). ⋯ BNP plasma concentration was normal in the majority of patients up to 15 years after TCPC. Elevated and increasing BNP levels were associated with increased morbidity and late mortality.
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Eur. J. Heart Fail. · Jan 2008
Comparative StudyUltrasound lung comets for the differential diagnosis of acute cardiogenic dyspnoea: a comparison with natriuretic peptides.
Acute dyspnoea as a presenting symptom is a frequent diagnostic challenge for physicians. The main differential diagnosis is between dyspnoea of cardiac and non-cardiac origin. Natriuretic peptides have been shown to be useful in this setting. Ultrasound lung comets (ULCs) are a simple, echographic method which can be used to assess pulmonary congestion. ⋯ In patients admitted with acute dyspnoea, pulmonary congestion, sonographically imaged as ULCs, is significantly correlated to NT-proBNP values. The accuracy of ULCs in predicting the cardiac origin of dyspnoea is high.