BNP and NT-proBNP are well-established heart failure markers, but their clinical utility during pregnancy remains limited due to physiological changes.
Limited utilityPhysiological BNP elevation during normal pregnancy complicates heart failure diagnosis
What the researchers found
BNP/NT-proBNP show promise for cardiac assessment in pregnancy but are limited by physiological elevations and lack of pregnancy-specific reference ranges.
Why it matters
Cardiac disease in pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal death — better diagnostic tools could save lives.
The numbers in context
No specific thresholds established; reviews available literature on BNP/NT-proBNP in pregnancy.
How the study worked
Systematic review of Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Register, and Cochrane Database on BNP use in pregnancy.
Who was studied
Pregnant women with or at risk of cardiac complications
What this study cannot tell us
Limited and heterogeneous evidence base. Pregnancy-specific reference ranges remain undefined.
How to read the evidence
Systematic review — good methodology but limited by the sparse and heterogeneous evidence base.
When this study was published
Published in 2025, addressing an ongoing gap in obstetric cardiology.
The bigger picture
Establishing pregnancy-specific cardiac biomarker thresholds would fill a major gap in obstetric cardiovascular care.
Questions still open
- What BNP cutoffs should be used for heart failure diagnosis in pregnant women?
- Can serial BNP measurements improve risk stratification during pregnancy?
Common questions
Can BNP tests detect heart problems during pregnancy?
Why is heart disease dangerous in pregnancy?
Read the original research
Usefulness of brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in pregnancy.
Obstetric medicine, 1753495X251398074
Citation
Quek, Stuart; Zill-E-Huma, Rabia; Andrews, Mark; Mouyis, Maria. (2025). Usefulness of brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in pregnancy.. Obstetric medicine, 1753495X251398074. https://doi.org/10.1177/1753495X251398074