Brain natriuretic peptide: diganostic [i.e. diagnostic] potential in dogs

The endocrine role of heart is evident in the secretion of nonadrenaline and natriuretic peptides. The secretion of natriuretic peptides presents a useful machanism for different conditions of cardiac disfunction. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been accepted in human cardiology as a biomarker for cardiac insufficiency and coronary arterial disease. The specificity of the BNP structure is species-specific, so that the testing of diagnostic and prognostic potential in dogs requires the existence of a test that is a homologue for that animal species. The existence of an adequate method for measuring BNP concentration makes possible its implementation as a screening test in every day clinical practice.