No incremental clinical information of NT Pro BNP at peak exercise over resting levels in patients with impaired left ventricular function

There is an increasing tension to use NT Pro BNP blood levels at peak exercise testing. Their possible superiority over resting levels in congestive heart failure or factors associated with their increase have not been adequately studied. We studied 65 patients, 51 males and 14 females with impaired left ventricular function. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 35 ± 9%. Our findings suggest that in patients with heart failure NT Pro BNP plasma levels at peak exercise do not provide incremental clinical information over resting levels. Baseline NT Pro BNP alone can provide sufficient clinical information.