Summary
NT-proBNP has the potential to become a valuable tool in veterinary practice, especially if an in-house version becomes available.
NT-proBNP has been shown to be able to differentiate between cardiac and respiratory dyspnea in cats. The research presented
at the ACVIM Forum in Denver demonstrates it increases diagnostic accuracy of general practitioners and can help them feel
more confident in the diagnoses they make. It also can play a role in predicting progression to CHF in dogs.
Our understanding of this biomarker is still incomplete; however, this should improve in the future as more research is generated
and presented.
Dr. Carr is professor of small-animal medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. After
completing his residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Carr worked as a clinical instructor and as an emergency
clinician before moving to Santa Fe, N.M., to work with Dr. Larry Tilley as a telemedicine consultant. His research interests
include electrocardiography, blood pressure and platelet function.
References
1. Fox PR, Oyama MA, Reynolds C, et al. Utility of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to distinguish
between congestive heart failure and non-cardiac causes of acute dyspnea in cats. J Vet Cardiol 2009;11(Suppl 1):S51-S61.
2. Singletary FE, Oyama MA, Rush JE, et al. NT-proBNP improves general practitioners' accuracy and confidence of diagnosis in
cats with respiratory signs (abstr). J Vet Intern Med 2011;25:650.
3. Reynolds CA, Oyama MA, Rush JE, et al. NT-proBNP predicts first onset of congestive heart failure in dogs with degenerative
mitral valve disease (abstr). J Vet Intern Med 2011;25:650.
4. Cohen RL, Singletary GE, Michel CM, et al. Exercise induced variability of plasma N-terminal pro-BNP in healthy dogs (abstr).
J Vet Intern Med 2011;25:655.
5. McLean M, Baum M, Allen J, et al. Validation of three shipping methodologies for NT-proBNP in a mixed cohort of cats (abstr).
J Vet Intern Med 2011;25:656.
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