Canine NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide)
NT-proBNP Testing is a valuable diagnostic tool for veterinary practitioners. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone produced and secreted by cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) in response to excessive cellular stretch1. BNP helps to regulate homeostasis of intravascular volume and systemic pressure, and counteracts the effects of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which becomes upregulated with heart disease.
In dogs, NT-proBNP is correlated with heart size and systolic function, and so concentrations can be used to detect dogs with early disease.
| Species: Canine |
Sample: Serum minimum 200μl |
TAT: 24 hours |
| Canine (Billing code 4273) | ||
| Reference range: | ||
| <900pmol/L Normal |
900–1,800pmol/L Suspected |
>1,800pmol/L Abnormal |
Clinical applications:
- Aids in distinguishing cardiac from respiratory disease
- Staging of myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD)
- Detects dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in large breeds
Feline NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide)
N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) is useful in identification and monitoring of heart disease in cats. NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide) is cleaved from BNP which is produced by the muscle cells of the heart and increases with excessive stretching of the cells. NT-proBNP concentration reflects the degree of cardiac activation secondary to stimulus, such as stretching, allowing this marker to be used to assess the magnitude of cardiac muscle stretching.
| Species: Feline |
Sample: Serum minimum 200μl |
TAT: 24 hours |
| Feline (Billing code 4274) | ||
| Reference range: | ||
| <100pmol/L Normal |
≥100 pmol/L Abnormal |
|
Clinical applications:
- To screen for occult heart disease
- Prior to anaesthesia
- In apparently healthy cats with heart murmurs or arrhythmias
- At risk breeds - Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Birman, Persian - To distinguish, cardiac and respiratory disease
- To differentiate cardiac and pulmonary causes of respiratory signs such as dyspnoea, tachypnoea and cough - To determine the severity of heart disease
- For monitoring stabilisation of congestive heart failure during hospitalisation
- For predicting survival in cats with congestive heart failure
References
1. Viera de Lima G and de Silveira Ferreira F. N-terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptides in dogs and cats: A technical and clinical review. Vet World. 10: 1072-1082 2017.