Use of Plasma Brain Natriuretic Peptide Concentration to Aid in the Diagnosis of Heart Failure  Brian P. Shapiro, MD, Horng H. Chen, MD, John C. Burnett, MD, Margaret M. Redfield, MD  Mayo Clinic Proceedings  Volume 78, Issue 4, Pages 481-486 (April 2003) DOI: 10.4065/78.4.481 Copyright © 2003 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Terms and Conditions

Figure 1 Box plots showing the minimum, 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, and the maximum plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentrations in patients with dyspnea not related to heart failure, in those who have underlying systolic dysfunction but present with dyspnea secondary to a primary lung disease, and in those with overt heart failure in the Breathing Not Properly Multinational Study. Boxes show interquartile ranges, and error bars represent highest and lowest values. CHF = congestive heart failure; LV = left ventricular. Reprinted with permission from Maisel et al.10 Copyright 2002 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2003 78, 481-486DOI: (10.4065/78.4.481) Copyright © 2003 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Terms and Conditions

Figure 2 Age-specific and sex-specific 95th percentile reference ranges for plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations measured by using the Triage BNP Test. Values are reported along with the upper reference range and the following interpretation guide: BNP level higher than normal but less than 200 pg/ mL = likely compensated congestive heart failure (CHF); BNP level of 200 to 400 pg/mL = likely moderate CHF; BNP level higher than 400 pg/mL = likely moderate to severe CHF. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2003 78, 481-486DOI: (10.4065/78.4.481) Copyright © 2003 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Terms and Conditions