[Consensus document. Type B natriuretic peptide in the Italian cardiology clinical reality: update of the experience].

The research on natriuretic peptides in cardiology has now reached the clinical setting in cardiology. The scientific literature on the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or on its N-terminal peptide (NT-proBNP) in heart failure is steadily growing, but Italian groups are under-represented in this context, even if there are some published or ongoing studies. This document summarizes the experience, mostly ongoing and unpublished, of 12 Italian groups in that field, as presented in a recent national meeting, suggests recommendations about the collection of blood samples and analytical procedures for BNP assay, and presents a brief consensus on the use of BNP in heart failure, for different areas: a) population screening, b) differential diagnosis of heart failure in case of dyspnea in general practice and c) in the emergency room, d) prognostic stratification in patients with diagnosed heart failure, and e) hormone-guided treatment of heart failure.