BNP / NT-proBNP Test

BNP (B-type Natriuretic Peptide) and its related marker NT-proBNP are hormones released by the heart muscle when it's under increased stress or strain, most commonly due to heart failure.

When the heart struggles to pump effectively, it stretches and releases these peptides in an attempt to help regulate fluid balance and blood pressure, so their blood levels rise roughly in proportion to how much strain the heart is experiencing.

This makes BNP/NT-proBNP testing especially valuable for distinguishing heart failure from other causes of similar symptoms, such as lung disease, since a normal result makes heart failure quite unlikely as the explanation for breathlessness.

Beyond initial diagnosis, these markers are also useful for monitoring known heart failure patients over time, since a rising level despite treatment can signal worsening heart function requiring closer follow-up.