Understanding BNP and NT-proBNP in Canine Cardiology

The B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), is a hormone that heart muscle cells release when they are stretched or stressed. The NT-proBNP is the N-terminal portion of this peptide that has an increased half-life in blood so as a result of this, NT-proBNP provides a consistent measure of cardiac strain. In canines, cNT-proBNP increases due to either myocardial stress/heart failure and is utilized for early detection of canine heart disease.

Clinical Relevance of Elevated cNT-proBNP Levels

The elevated levels of cNT-proBNP may be indicative of conditions including but not limited to; congestive heart failure, or valvular disease in the canine patient. Quantitative measurement of NT-proBNP in the veterinary medicine setting is becoming increasingly valuable: numerous studies have demonstrated that by adding the quantitative measurement of NT-proBNP to the examination process, clinicians will be able to determine whether their canine patients have evidence of either early or late stage heart disease and how well they are responding to the current course of treatment. As such, the ability to detect the presence of cardiac-related issues prior to the onset of clinical signs of the disease state is a significant advantage in the use of this biomarker in canine patients.

Vitrosens’ Rapid FIA Solution for Canine NT-proBNP

Vitrosens Biotechnology has developed a rapid cNT-proBNP test kit for use in canine patients. The Vitrosens cNT-proBNP Rapid Test Kit utilizes Fluorescence Immunoassay (FIA) technology to provide a quantitative measurement of NT-proBNP in serum or plasma from canine patients. Similar to all FIA based assays, results are available in a matter of minutes, providing veterinarians the opportunity to quickly assess a canine’s cardiac status at the time of the initial clinic visit. The addition of this new FIA test to the clinician’s diagnostic arsenal allows them to obtain a fast, point-of-care assessment of their canine patient’s heart disease status.