Congestive heart failure laboratory tests
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
BNP levels may be useful in the initial establishment of the diagnosis of heart failure in the patient with dyspnea of unclear etiology. In a meta-analysis, BNP was superior N-terminal pro-BNP (NTproBNP) and was associated with a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 84% in the diagnosis of heart failure in the primary care setting.[1] Once the diagnosis of heart failure is made, subsequent laboratory studies should be directed toward the identification of an underlying cause of heart failure.
Renal Function
Renal function should be assessed as a rough guide to the patient's intravascular volume status and renal perfusion. A urinalysis is helpful in the assessment of the patient's volume status. Electrolyte assessment and the correction of electrolyte disturbances such as hypokalemia, hyperkalemia and hypomagnesemia is critical in those patients treated with diuretics.
Hematologic Studies
A complete blood count should be obtained to assess for the presence of anemia which may exacerbate heart failure and to assess the patients coagulation status which may be impaired due to hepatic congestion.
Thyroid Studies
The assessment of thyroid function tests is particularly important in the patient who is being treated with concomitant therapy with an agent such as amiodarone.
ACC/AHA Guidelines- Initial Clinical Assessment [2][3]
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Class I1. Initial laboratory evaluation of patients presenting with heart failure should include complete blood count, urinalysis, serum electrolytes (including calcium and magnesium), blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, fasting blood glucose (glycohemoglobin), lipid profile, liver function tests, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. (Level of Evidence: C) Class IIa1. Measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) can be useful in the evaluation of patients presenting in the urgent care setting in whom the clinical diagnosis of heart failure is uncertain. Measurement of natriuretic peptides (BNP and NT-proBNP) can be useful in risk stratification.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] (Level of Evidence: A) 2. Screening for hemochromatosis, sleep-disturbed breathing, or human immunodeficiency virus is reasonable in selected patients who present with heart failure. (Level of Evidence: C) 3. Diagnostic tests for rheumatologic diseases, amyloidosis, or pheochromocytoma are reasonable in patients presenting with heart failure in whom there is a clinical suspicion of these diseases. (Level of Evidence: C) Class III1. Routine measurement of circulating levels of neurohormones (e.g., norepinephrine or endothelin) is not recommended for patients presenting with heart failure. (Level of Evidence: C) |
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ACC/AHA Guidelines- Serial Clinical Assessment [2][3]
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Class IIb1. The value of serial measurements of BNP to guide therapy for patients with heart failure is not well established. (Level of Evidence: C) |
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Vote on and Suggest Revisions to the Current Guidelines
Guidelines Resources
- The ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult [2]
- 2009 focused update: ACCF/AHA Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure in Adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines: developed in collaboration with the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation [3]
References
- ↑ Ewald B, Ewald D, Thakkinstian A, Attia J (2008). "Meta-analysis of B type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro B natriuretic peptide in the diagnosis of clinical heart failure and population screening for left ventricular systolic dysfunction". Intern Med J. 38 (2): 101–13. doi:10.1111/j.1445-5994.2007.01454.x. PMID 18290826.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Hunt SA, Abraham WT, Chin MH, Feldman AM, Francis GS, Ganiats TG, Jessup M, Konstam MA, Mancini DM, Michl K, Oates JA, Rahko PS, Silver MA, Stevenson LW, Yancy CW, Antman EM, Smith SC Jr, Adams CD, Anderson JL, Faxon DP, Fuster V, Halperin JL, Hiratzka LF, Jacobs AK, Nishimura R, Ornato JP, Page RL, Riegel B; American College of Cardiology; American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines; American College of Chest Physicians; International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation; Heart Rhythm Society. ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Update the 2001 Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management of Heart Failure): developed in collaboration with the American College of Chest Physicians and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation: endorsed by the Heart Rhythm Society. Circulation. 2005 Sep 20; 112(12): e154-235. Epub 2005 Sep 13. PMID 16160202
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Jessup M, Abraham WT, Casey DE, Feldman AM, Francis GS, Ganiats TG et al. (2009) 2009 focused update: ACCF/AHA Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure in Adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines: developed in collaboration with the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Circulation 119 (14):1977-2016. DOI:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192064 PMID: 19324967
- ↑ de Lemos JA, McGuire DK, Drazner MH (2003). "B-type natriuretic peptide in cardiovascular disease". Lancet. 362 (9380): 316–22. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13976-1. PMID 12892964. Retrieved 2012-04-05. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Siebert U, Januzzi JL, Beinfeld MT, Cameron R, Gazelle GS (2006). "Cost-effectiveness of using N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide to guide the diagnostic assessment and management of dyspneic patients in the emergency department". The American Journal of Cardiology. 98 (6): 800–5. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2006.06.005. PMID 16950189. Retrieved 2012-04-05. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Gackowski A, Isnard R, Golmard JL, Pousset F, Carayon A, Montalescot G, Hulot JS, Thomas D, Piwowarska W, Komajda M (2004). "Comparison of echocardiography and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide for monitoring the response to treatment in acute heart failure". European Heart Journal. 25 (20): 1788–96. doi:10.1016/j.ehj.2004.07.038. PMID 15474693. Retrieved 2012-04-05. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Bayés-Genís A, Santaló-Bel M, Zapico-Muñiz E, López L, Cotes C, Bellido J, Leta R, Casan P, Ordóñez-Llanos J (2004). "N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in the emergency diagnosis and in-hospital monitoring of patients with dyspnoea and ventricular dysfunction". European Journal of Heart Failure. 6 (3): 301–8. doi:10.1016/j.ejheart.2003.12.013. PMID 14987580. Retrieved 2012-04-05. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Dao Q, Krishnaswamy P, Kazanegra R, Harrison A, Amirnovin R, Lenert L, Clopton P, Alberto J, Hlavin P, Maisel AS (2001). "Utility of B-type natriuretic peptide in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in an urgent-care setting". Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 37 (2): 379–85. PMID 11216950. Retrieved 2012-04-05. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Worster A, Balion CM, Hill SA, Santaguida P, Ismaila A, McKelvie R, Reichert SM, McQueen MJ, Booker L, Raina PS (2008). "Diagnostic accuracy of BNP and NT-proBNP in patients presenting to acute care settings with dyspnea: a systematic review". Clinical Biochemistry. 41 (4–5): 250–9. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2007.08.008. PMID 17915204. Retrieved 2012-04-05. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ O'Donoghue M, Kenney P, Oestreicher E, Anwaruddin S, Baggish AL, Krauser DG, Chen A, Tung R, Cameron R, Januzzi JL (2007). "Usefulness of aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide testing for the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of dyspneic patients with diabetes mellitus seen in the emergency department (from the PRIDE Study)". The American Journal of Cardiology. 100 (9): 1336–40. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2007.06.020. PMID 17950786. Retrieved 2012-04-05. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Silvers SM, Howell JM, Kosowsky JM, Rokos IC, Jagoda AS (2007). "Clinical policy: Critical issues in the evaluation and management of adult patients presenting to the emergency department with acute heart failure syndromes". Annals of Emergency Medicine. 49 (5): 627–69. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2006.10.024. PMID 17408803. Retrieved 2012-04-05. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help)