B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone produced the heart. N-terminal (NT)-pro hormone BNP (NT-proBNP) is a non-active prohormone that is released from the same molecule that produces BNP (https://my.clevelandclinic.org).In normal health only small levels of BNP and NT-proBNP are found in the bloodstream. High levels indicates that the heart isn’t pumping as much blood as your body needs. NT-proBNP measurements in human blood is therefore helpful not only for the cardiac disease diagnosis but also for evaluation of patients with suspected heart failure and assessment of severity of the disease.
