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B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)

Meaning

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) is a neurohormone primarily secreted by the ventricular myocytes of the heart in direct response to excessive stretching of the heart muscle fibers, which is often a key indicator of volume overload or cardiac dysfunction. Measuring the plasma concentration of this peptide is a critical diagnostic and prognostic tool in clinical cardiology. By extension, elevated BNP levels signal significant cardiac strain, demanding careful cardiovascular risk assessment before initiating or adjusting hormone regimens that could impact fluid dynamics.