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When Is A BNP Blood Test Administered?

Posted on Mon, 14 Sep 2015

Question: what does a bnp test mean with your heart
YYYY@YYYY

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
BNP is a blood test to predict heart failure

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.

1. B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) is a chemical substance which is analyzed in the blood to know the possibility of heart failure.

2. When there is decreasing function of the heart, then there is release of a protein substance that breaks down in to B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and N-terminal-pro-BNP (NT-pro-BNP). The level of these proteins tell the grade of heart failure.

3. The normal and abnormal ranges of BNP is as given below.

BNP levels below 100 pg/mL indicate no heart failure.
BNP levels of 100-300 pg/mL suggest heart failure is present.
BNP levels above 300 pg/mL indicate mild heart failure.
BNP levels above 600 pg/mL indicate moderate heart failure.
BNP levels above 900 pg/mL indicate severe heart failure.

Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (13 minutes later)

I have had bnp levels of 400 plus 2 months ago, over 1000 last month and back to 400 plus last week. is it normal to jump around and how does that affect pulmonary hypertension

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Fluctuations in BNP are seen during stress on the heart

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. The BNP is an indirect indication of heart function. Probably you had an acute phase of cardiac dysfunction when the levels went above 1000. Thereafter proper treatment was started and your heart responded. Such a fluctuation is possible during stress on your heart. Pulmonary hypertension is the increased pressure of blood flowing through the pulmonary arteries. When the heart gets weak then the work to be done increases and will make your symptoms with associated pulmonary hypertension more severe.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar