Evaluating the evidence for assessing BNP and NT-proBNP levels

Objectives: To provide an overview of 5 systematic reviews in this issue of Clinical Biochemistry addressing the diagnostic and prognostic power of natriuretic peptides. Design and methods: Editorial. Results: Limited quality of the primary studies and the large variability in their results limit the inferences that can be drawn from reviews in this series. Conclusions: The current data justify neither enthusiastic use, nor confident rejection, of BNP and NT-proBNP levels to inform the prognosis or diagnosis of heart failure.