Rapid Point-of-Care NT-proBNP Testing Is Reliable for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Monitoring

This was a prospective study enrolling 41 Group 1 PAH patients across 56 study visits. Blood samples were taken at two time points for both laboratory and point-of-care NT-proBNP and BNP testing. Separate samples were mailed back to the laboratory to test stability during postal transit, simulating remote monitoring. Some samples were assessed before and after exercise. Agreement between methods was evaluated using Passing-Bablok regression, ICC, and COMPERA 2.0 risk stratification thresholds.

PAH is a serious condition where timely monitoring can be life-saving. Currently, patients must wait for lab results that aren't available during their clinic visit, potentially delaying treatment decisions. Point-of-care testing could enable immediate clinical action, while remote monitoring via mailed samples could reduce the need for frequent hospital visits — particularly important for patients who travel long distances to specialist centers.

NT-proBNP and BNP are natriuretic peptides released by the heart under stress and are among the most widely used cardiac biomarkers. This study is part of a broader movement toward point-of-care and remote monitoring in cardiopulmonary diseases, enabled by advancing POCT technology. The finding that BNP and NT-proBNP often disagree on risk classification has important implications for standardizing PAH monitoring guidelines.

The study enrolled only 41 patients, though this met the pre-specified sample size calculation. It was conducted at a single center. The POCT device used is specific and results may vary with different devices. The postal stability testing simulated remote monitoring but actual home-based sample collection introduces additional variables. The study focused on Group 1 PAH and may not generalize to other forms of pulmonary hypertension.