A female older adult client has presented with a new onset of shortness of breath, and her physician has ordered measurement of her brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels along with other diagnostic tests
What is the most accurate rationale for the physician's choice of blood work?
A)
BNP is released as a compensatory mechanism during heart failure, and measuring it can help differentiate the client's dyspnea from a respiratory pathology.
B)
BNP is an indirect indicator of the effectiveness of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system in compensating for heart failure.
C)
BNP levels correlate with the client's risk of developing cognitive deficits secondary to heart failure and consequent brain hypoxia.
D)
BNP becomes elevated in cases of cardiac asthma, Cheyne-Stokes respirations, and acute pulmonary edema, and measurement can gauge the severity of pulmonary effects.
Ans:
A
Feedback:
BNP is released to compensate for heart failure, and elevated levels help confirm the diagnosis of heart failure as opposed to respiratory etiologies. It does not measure the effectiveness of the RAA system, the risk of cognitive deficits, or the specific severity of pulmonary symptoms of heart failure.
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