[Plasma brain natriuretic peptide as a useful biochemical marker of congestive heart failure].

Neurohumoral factors, which is divided to two groups, are activated in patients with congestive heart failure(CHF). One is cardiotoxic biochemical markers such as nor-epinephrine, angiotensin II, endothelin-1, and vasopressin, the other is cardioprotective biochemical markers such as atrial natriuretic peptide, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Among various neurohumoral factors, plasma level of BNP is the most useful marker to diagnose and evaluate the severity and prognosis of CHF patients. The reason why the usefulness of plasma BNP is 1) BNP is of ventricular origin, 2) BNP reflects hemodynamic abnormalities(high left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and/or low left ventricular ejection fraction), 3) Attenuation of biological compensation of beneficial effects of BNP(vasodilation, diuresis) in advanced-staged CHF.