Use of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide to detect cardiac origin in critically ill cancer patients with acute respiratory failure.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of plasma N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations (NT-proBNP) as a diagnostic tool to recognize acute respiratory failure (ARF) of cardiac origin.

Methods: Prospective observational study in 100 medical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. NT-proBNP was measured at ICU admission, and diagnosis of cardiac dysfunction was performed using echocardiography.