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Elevated NT-proBNP levels should be interpreted in elderly patients presenting with dyspnea

Fabio Fabbian1, Alfredo De Giorgi, Marco Pala

  • 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital St. Anna, Corso Giovecca, 203, I-44100 Ferrara, Italy. f.fabbian@ospfe.it

European Journal of Internal Medicine
|January 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary

In elderly patients with dyspnea, NT-proBNP levels are often elevated and influenced by factors beyond congestive heart failure, such as kidney disease and anemia. These findings suggest NT-proBNP may not reliably diagnose heart failure in this complex population.

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