A Cut-off Value Study of N-terminal Brain Natriuretic Peptide （Chemiluminescence Method）

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by dyspnea, fatigue, and fluid retention (pulmonary congestion, systemic congestion, and peripheral edema) caused by abnormal changes in the structure and/or function of the heart due to multiple causes, resulting in dysfunctional ventricular contraction and/or diastolic function [1]. Heart failure is a severe or advanced stage of various cardiac diseases, with high rates of mortality and rehospitalization [1]. The prevalence of heart failure in developed countries is 1.5%~2.0%, and the prevalence in ≥ 70-year-old population ≥ 10%[2]. According to the epidemiological survey in 2003, the prevalence of heart failure in adults aged 35~74 years in China was 0.9% [3]. In recent years, with the aging of the population, the prevalence of heart failure in China has continued to increase.

A comprehensive and accurate diagnosis is a prerequisite for effective treatment for patients with heart failure, but patients with heart failure often have multiple diseases, and the clinical symptoms of heart failure overlap with those of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, making it difficult to make clinical differential diagnosis [1]. At present, a variety of biomarkers have been used in the clinical diagnosis of heart failure, among which brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)/aminoterminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP) is the best biomarker for diagnosing heart failure [4].

Natriuretic peptides are a class of endogenous polypeptides with natriuretic and diuretic effects. BNP is an important natriuretic peptide in the human body, which is very sensitive and specifically reflects cardiac dysfunction, and has important clinical significance [5,6]. BNP is mainly synthesized by the ventricles, and when myocardial cells are stimulated, they produce a 134-amino acid B-type natriuretic peptide precursor, followed by a 108-amino acid BNP precursor, which is cleaved by the action of an endonuclease into a 76-amino acid, non-biologically active NT-proBNP, and a 32-amino acid-containing active BNP, which are released into the bloodstream [6].

Currently, blood BNP levels have been recommended by several international authoritative societies, including the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association (ACCF/AHA), and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator of heart failure [7-10].

NT-proBNP and BNP belong to the same natriuretic peptide family and have the same biological origin. Because NT-proBNP and BNP are equimolar releases, they have similar clinical applications in the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases [5].

BNP and NT-proBNP assays were introduced in China at the beginning of the 21st century and have been widely used in clinical practice by hospitals and physicians at all levels, and have become very useful biomarkers for the diagnosis and evaluation of cardiovascular diseases, especially heart failure [6]. The 2007 Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure [11], the 2010 Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Heart Failure [12], and the 2018 Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Failure [1] all recommend the use of NT-proBNP and BNP for the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure.

According to the 2018 Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Failure [1] and the ICON study [13], the cut-off values of NT-proBNP in China are as follows:

• Acute heart failure (AHF) is usually excluded with NT-proBNP < 300 ng/L;
• NT-proBNP < 125 ng/L generally excludes chronic heart failure (CHF), but its sensitivity and specificity are lower than those of AHF; • In diagnosing AHF, NT-proBNP levels should be stratified according to age and renal function: NT-proBNP levels > 450 ng/L in patients under 50 years of age, > 900 ng/L over 50 years, and > 1800 ng/L over 75 years, renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min) should be > 1200 ng/L.

The purpose of this study was to calculate the specificity and sensitivity of the N-terminal Brain Natriuretic Peptide Pre-Screening Test Kit (Chemiluminescence) in AHF and non-AHF* subjects at the cut-off values (300 ng/L, 450 ng/L, 900 ng/L, 1800 ng/L) for the above exclusion of AHF and diagnosis of AHF.

Note: Non-AHF means "having symptoms that would make the investigator suspect that they are related to this study, but the final diagnosis is not AHF".