Diagnostic and prognostic value of uric acid in patients with acute dyspnea.

Background: Uric acid was shown to predict outcome in patients with stable chronic heart failure. Its impact in patients admitted in the Emergency Department with acute dyspnea, however, remains unknown.

Methods: We prospectively investigated the diagnostic and prognostic value of uric acid in 743 unselected patients presenting to the Emergency Department with acute dyspnea.

B-type natriuretic peptide-guided management and outcome in patients with obesity and dyspnea--results from the BASEL study.

Background: Obesity may reduce diagnostic accuracy of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and affect long-term outcome.

Methods: This study evaluated patients included in the BASEL study (N = 452). We compared BNP levels in patients with (n = 86) and without (n = 366) obesity (body mass index <30 and >30 kg/m(2)) and determined sensitivities and specificities of BNP in both patient groups by receiver-operating characteristic analysis.

Incremental value of copeptin for rapid rule out of acute myocardial infarction.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the incremental value of copeptin for rapid rule out of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Background: The rapid and reliable exclusion of AMI is a major unmet clinical need. Copeptin, the C-terminal part of the vasopressin prohormone, as a marker of acute endogenous stress may be useful in this setting.

B-type natriuretic peptide and C-terminal-pro-endothelin-1 for the prediction of severely impaired peak oxygen consumption.

Objective: To assess the utility of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-terminal-pro-endothelin-1 (CT-proET-1) to predict a severely impaired peak oxygen consumption (peak VO(2), < 14 mL kg(-1) min(-1)) in patients referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Impact of history of heart failure on diagnostic and prognostic value of BNP: results from the B-type Natriuretic Peptide for Acute Shortness of Breath Evaluation (BASEL) study.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the influence of history of heart failure (HF) on circulating levels, diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients presenting with all cause dyspnea at the emergency department.

Background: BNP has been shown to be very helpful in diagnosis and prognosis of HF. Due to chronically elevated cardiac filling pressures, patients with a history of HF might have higher BNP levels and therefore diagnostic and prognostic properties of BNP may be affected.