Heart failure (HF) is a common disease associated with increasing age.B-type natriureticpeptide (BNP),is a cardiac neurohormone,and is released as prepro BNP and then enzymatically cleaved to the N-terminal-proBNP (NT-proBNP) and BNP upon ventricular myocyte stretch.Blood measurements of BNP have beenused to identify patients with HF.The BNP assay is currently used as a diagnostic and prognostic aid in HF.Ingeneral,a BNP level below 100 pg/mL excludes acutely decompensated HF and levels > 500 pg/ml indicatedecomponsation.Recombinant human BNP (hBNP,nesifitide) is an approved intravenous treatment for acute,decomponsated HF.Nesiritide given in supraphysiologic doses causes vasedilation,natriuresis,diuresis,andimproved symptoms over the course of a 48-hour infusion.This paper will sort out the literature concerning the use ofthis peptide both as a diagnostic test and as an intravenous therapy.(J Cetiatr Cardiol 2004;1:21-28.) Heart failure (HF) is a common disease associated with increasing age. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and is a cardiac neurohormone, and is released as prepro BNP and then enzymatically cleaved to the N-terminal-proBNP BNP upon ventricular myocyte stretch. Blood measurements of BNP have beenused to identify patients with HF. The BNP assay is currently used as a diagnostic and prognostic aid in HF. Neckne, a BNP level below 100 pg / mL excludes acutely decompensated HF and levels> 500 pg / ml indicatedecomponsation. Recombinant human BNP (hBNP, nesifitide) is an approved intravenous treatment for acute, decompons HF. Nesiritide given in supraphysiologic doses causes vasedilation, natriuresis, diuresis, andimproved symptoms over the course of a 48-hour infusion. paper will sort out the literature concerning the use of peptide peptide both as a diagnostic test and as an intravenous therapy. (J Cetiatr Cardiol 2004; 1: 21-28.)