OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)and atrium natriuretic peptide(ANP)in chronic congestive heart failure.

METHODSOne hundred and eighteen coronary heart disease patients were enrolled in the study. Among them 78 patients were accompanied by heart failure and 40 with no heart failure. Plasma NT-proBNP was determined with Elecsys Chemiluminescence Immunoassay method, and plasma ANP was determined with radioimmunoassay method.The results were compared with those of 40 healthy individuals. All patients were followed up accordingly.

RESULTSCompared with patients with no heart failure and healthy individuals, the patients with heart failure had a higher plasma NT-proBNP and ANP contents(P<0.05). Cardiac function grade IV patients had a significantly higher plasma NT-proBNP than cardiac function grade II and III patients, and their plasma ANP level was significanthy higher than that of cardiac function grade III patients, but there was no significantly difference in ANP content between cardiac function grade IV and II.The diagnostic sensitivity of NT-proBNP and ANP was 91.25% and 73.46%, respectively. The diagnostic specificity of NT-proBNP and ANP was 90.25%, 80.33%, respectively. In the heart failure group, it was found that there was no significant difference in the plasma NT-proBNP and ANP between the deaths and surviving patients.

CONCLUSIONThe diagnostic value of NT-proBNP in chronic heart failure is higher than that of ANP. According to our follow- up result, the plasma NT-proBNP and ANP can not be relied up on to predict short -term cardiogenic death in heart failure.