Can we use B-type natriuretic peptides to monitor patients with heart failure?

The B-type natriuretic peptides (BNPs) now have a well-established role in the diagnosis of heart failure. There is also a wealth of evidence on their ability as prognostic markers in patients with heart failure. The other potential role of BNPs is in the arena of therapy monitoring, although much less is known regarding this putative application. This review summarizes what evidence there is both for and against using BNPs to monitor heart failure patients.