Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentrations may help to identify patients with very low-risk acute pulmonary embolism: A preliminary study.

Background: Patients with an acute pulmonary embolism (APE) are a heterogeneous group, and some of them may benefit from early discharge and an ambulatory care referral. We aimed to evaluate the use of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) plasma level assessment in patients with low-risk APE based on clinical findings (0 points on the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI)).

Material And Methods: Preliminary analysis of an ongoing prospective study including 1,151 normotensive patients with at least a segmental APE.