New Test Helps the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Heart Failure

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a quantitative marker of heart stress, provides objective diagnostic information that helps distinguish heart failure from other disease states with similar clinical symptoms, for instance lung diseases or pulmonary embolism. It has the potential to detect early stages of heart failure in the absence of clinically obvious symptoms. In addition, it can be used to assess the prognosis of patients with established heart failure or acute coronary syndrome.

NT-proBNP measurement is cost-effective and could lead to important healthcare cost-savings. A recent study carried out in Canada reported a reduction in direct medical costs of 15% (US$949 per patient) when NT-proBNP testing was part of routine assessment of emergency department patients with dyspnea.

bioMerieux (Paris, France), an vitro diagnostics company, has launched the Vidas NT-proBNP test, which was developed by the company following a licensing agreement with Roche Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland). The test is a key addition for the bioMerieux Vidas emergency panel, which already covers markers of cardiac necrosis (Vidas Troponin I Ultra, Myoglobin, and CK-MB), venous thromboembolism (Vidas D-Dimer Exclusion), and bacterial infections (Vidas B.R.A.H.M.S PCT).

"This launch reinforces bioMerieux's commitment in the field of life-threatening cardiac pathologies. Vidas NT-proBNP is an innovative test and an important tool for patient management,” declared Stephane Bancel, CEO of bioMerieux. "The unique Vidas design makes this assay available 24 hours a day for emergency departments.”

Heart failure is a major healthcare issue, whose frequency is expected to continue to rise in the coming years due to the worldwide aging population and increased survival rate from acute coronary events. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people over 65 years of age, affecting up to 17 million people worldwide. In the United States, five million people suffer from heart failure, and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is secreted primarily by the left ventricle when the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently (e.g., in cases of heart failure). NT-proBNP is cleaved from the precursor protein proBNP in quantities directly proportional to its biologically active counterpart BNP and in close correlation with the severity of heart failure.


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bioMerieux
Roche Diagnostics