ProANP and proBNP in plasma as biomarkers of heart failure

Aim: To compare the measurement of proANP and proBNP in plasma for the diagnosis of heart failure. Methods: In the PubMed search, a process of combining subject headings and terms regarding comparison of natriuretic peptides (proANP and proBNP) was performed. Results: 21 abstracts from research articles were screened with 14 articles assessed for eligibility. 11 papers were included for final analysis. We report comparable diagnostic accuracies of N-terminal proBNP and mid-regional proANP. Older methods for proANP measurement seem obsolete. Conclusion: Similar diagnostic performance of proANP and proBNP measurement for the diagnosis of heart failure was identified. Consequently, mid-regional proANP can be used when considering a diagnosis of heart failure.