HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Test
Test Overview
A brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) test measures the amount of the BNP Reference hormone Opens New Window in your blood. BNP is made by your heart and shows how well your heart is working. Normally, only a low amount of BNP is found in your blood. But if your heart has to work harder than usual over a long period of time, such as from Reference heart failure Opens New Window, the heart releases more BNP, increasing the blood level of BNP. The BNP level may drop when treatment for heart failure is working.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference April 25, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference George Philippides, MD - Cardiology |
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