Natriuretic peptides as biomarkers of cardiac endocrine function in heart failure: new challenges and perspectives

Several studies indicated that B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) assay is able to detect patients even in the early phases of heart failure (HF), when the myocardial remodeling process may be still reversible. BNP assay may assist the physician to initiate appropriate and prompt pharmacological treatments. However, clinical relevance and result interpretation of BNP assay for the guide of therapy or in particular clinical conditions, such as renal failure or treatment with inhibitors of enzymes degrading BNP in HF patients, are still debated. The aim of this article is to discuss some still controversial issues concerning the clinical use of measurement of cardiac natriuretic peptides, and also to provide a general overview and some perspectives related to pathophysiological mechanisms of HF.