Evaluating the evidence for assessing BNP and NT-proBNP levels

Objectives:To provide an overview of 5 systematic reviews in this issue of Clinical Biochemistry addressing the diagnostic and prognostic power of natriuretic peptides.Design and methods:Editorial.Results:Limited quality of the primary studies and the large variability in their results limit the inferences that can be drawn from reviews in this series.Conclusions:The current data justify neither enthusiastic use, nor confident rejection, of BNP and NT-proBNP levels to inform the prognosis or diagnosis of heart failure.