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[Diagnosis of heart failure]
1Service de cardiologie, Inserm U942, hôpital Lariboisière, AP-HP, 75475 Paris Cedex 10. damien.logeart@lrb.aphp.fr
Abstract:
The diagnosis of heart failure is based on strict process using clinical examination as well as other tests. The fine analysis of cardinal symptoms - tiredness and dyspnea--as well as of various signs is required. In cases of uncertainty, blood testing of BNP or NT-pro-BNP improves the diagnostic accuracy. Then the diagnosis is confirmed only after the assessment of evidence of cardiac abnormalities, using cardiac echography among others. Such process will be repeated in cases of significant changes in symptoms. The diagnostic process is associated with etiological investigations as well as the strict assessment of precipitating factors, because of their potential consequences on treatment.
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