NT-pro-BNP has been proposed as a good predictor of syncope adverse outcome in the Emergency Department (ED) [Pfister R, Diedrichs H, Larbig R, Erdmann E, Schneider CA. NT-pro-BNP for differential diagnosis in patients with syncope. Int J Cardiol 2008 Jan 29]. We hereby summarize four critical points that should be taken into account when seeking to identify a cardiac cause of syncope or dealing with a risk stratification approach of the patient in the ED. The first issue is that patients admitted to the hospital after syncope are usually sicker than those discharged because of a higher rate of co-morbidity. Secondly, the focus on discharged patients is of paramount importance to assess the goodness of a predictor. Aging, which affects NT-pro-BNP levels, is a limiting factor in interpreting results. Finally, in order to add valuable information to the clinical practice, we suggest to compare results obtained by NT-pro-BNP values and the most used prognostic risk scores, such as the OESIL and SFSR.
NT-pro-BNP for differential diagnosis in patients with syncope / G. Costantino, M. Solbiati, G. Pisano, R. Furlan. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY. - ISSN 0167-5273. - 137:3(2009), pp. 298-299.
Titolo: | NT-pro-BNP for differential diagnosis in patients with syncope |
Autori: | FURLAN, RAFFAELLO (Ultimo) |
Parole Chiave: | syncope; NT-proBNP; diagnosis |
Settore Scientifico Disciplinare: | Settore MED/09 - Medicina Interna |
Data di pubblicazione: | 2009 |
Rivista: | |
Tipologia: | Article (author) |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2008.05.051 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 01 - Articolo su periodico |