A Brief Report on Utility of N-terminal pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) in Screening Patients at Risk of Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke

Authors

  • Arun HS Kumar Room 216, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin-04, Ireland. Author

Abstract

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a prohormone that is produced and released by the heart (ventricles) in response to alteration in pressure/strain/volume.[1-3] It is used as a biomarker of cardiac function and is involved in the regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance.1-3 When the heart is under stress or is experiencing decreased blood flow, the ventricular myocardium releases the precursor molecule proBNP, which is then cleaved (by a membrane-bound enzyme called corin) into B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and NT-proBNP in equimolar amounts.4,5 BNP is secreted into the blood and promotes vasodilation and diuresis, while NT-proBNP serves as a stable marker of cardiac function and is involved in the regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance.6,7 NT-proBNP synthesized in the cardiac ventricles as a prepropeptide (134 amino acids) undergoes several post-translational modifications, including signal peptide cleavage, propeptide cleavage, and glycosylation, before being released as the mature 76-amino acid NT-proBNP molecule.4,5 NT-proBNP is secreted into the bloodstream and is cleared primarily by the kidneys. NT-proBNP levels are influenced by a variety of factors, including age, sex, kidney function, and cardiac disease.8,9 Elevated levels of NT-proBNP are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation and stroke, and can be used as a diagnostic tool to identify individuals at risk of these conditions.6,10-12 The concentration NT-proBNP can be measured in serum/ plasma samples. The assays for NT-proBNP measurement typically use immunoassay techniques, such as Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) or Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA), which rely on the binding of specific antibodies to the NT-proBNP molecule. These assays are highly sensitive and specific, with low limits of detection and high precision, making them valuable tools for the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease

Downloads

Published

2023-12-31

Issue

Section

Original Research Article