Utility of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and N-terminal Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Evaluation of Respiratory Failure in Critically Ill Patients

NTproBNP and BNP failed to differentiate high- vs low-PAWP respiratory failure but were inversely correlated with indexes of cardiac contractility. With higher accuracy, NTproBNP may be a more discerning marker than BNP in patients with milder cardiac dysfunction. Neither peptide predicted short-term mortality.