N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide as an Indicator of Right Ventricular Dysfunction

Because levels of brain natriuretic peptides are elevated significantly not only in pathologic conditions that affect the left ventricle but also in clinical conditions that lead to isolated acute or chronic right ventricular overload, it could be proposed that these peptides should not be regarded as biomarkers of congestive heart failure, but as indicators of cardiovascular dyspnea.