What is the recommendation for using natriuretic peptide biomarkers to diagnose dyspnea?
Measurement of natriuretic peptide biomarkers is useful to support a diagnosis or exclusion of dyspnea. Natriuretic peptide biomarker testing in the setting of chronic ambulatory HF provides incremental diagnostic value to clinical judgment, especially when the etiology of dyspnea is unclear. In emergency settings, natriuretic peptide biomarker levels usually have higher sensitivity than specificity and may be more useful for ruling out than ruling in HF. Clinicians should be aware that elevated plasma levels for both natriuretic peptides have been associated with a wide variety of cardiac and noncardiac causes.