In this multi-centre, international study, NT-proBNP testing was valuable for diagnostic evaluation and short-term prognosis estimation in dyspnoeic subjects with suspected or confirmed acute HF and should establish broader standards for use of the NT-proBNP in dyspnoeic patients.

This document is an essential companion to the third iteration of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry [NACB, now the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Academy] Laboratory Medicine Practice Guidelines (LMPG) on cardiac markers. The expert consensus recommendations were drafted in collaboration with the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Task Force on Clinical Applications of Bio-Markers (IFCC TF-CB). We determined that there is sufficient clinical guidance on the use of cardiac troponin (cTn) testing from clinical practice groups. Thus, in this expert consensus document, we focused on clinical laboratory practice recommendations for high-sensitivity (hs)-cTn assays. This document utilized the expert opinion class of evidence to focus on the following 10 topics: () quality control (QC) utilization, () validation of the lower reportable analytical limits, () units to be used in reporting measurable concentrations for patients and QC materials, () 99th percentile sex-specific upper reference limits to define the reference interval; () criteria required to define hs-cTn assays, () communication with clinicians and the laboratory's role in educating clinicians regarding the influence of preanalytic and analytic problems that can confound assay results, () studies on hs-cTn assays and how authors need to document preanalytical and analytical variables, () harmonizing and standardizing assay results and the role of commutable materials, () time to reporting of results from sample receipt and sample collection, and () changes in hs-cTn concentrations over time and the role of both analytical and biological variabilities in interpreting results of serial blood collections.

This review raises important educational information regarding cTnI and cTnT assays, their 99th percentile upper reference limits (URL) differentiated by sex, and specifically addresses high-sensitivity (hs)-assays used to measure low concentrations. Recommendations are made to help clarify the nomenclature and analytical and clinical characteristics to define hs-assays. The review also identifies challenges for the evolving implementation of hs-assays into clinical practice. It is hoped that with the introduction of these concepts, laboratorians, clinicians and researchers can develop a more unified view of how these assays should be used worldwide.

OBJECTIVE—To assess the prevalence in HIV-infected patients of the metabolic syndrome as defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program, i.e., three or more of the following components: abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high fasting glucose. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—In this cross-sectional study, 710 HIV-infected patients managed at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital during 2003 completed the study protocol consisting of a medical examination and laboratory analysis after a 12-h overnight fast. RESULTS—Metabolic syndrome prevalence was 17% and increased from 5.1% among HIV-infected patients under age 30 years to 27.0% for those aged 50–59 years. Age (per 10-year increment) (odds ratio [OR] 1.41 [95% CI 1.12–1.77]), BMI (1.27 [1.19–1.36]), past and present protease inhibitor exposure (2.96 [1.03–3.55] and 4.18 [1.4–12.5], respectively) were independently associated with the metabolic syndrome on logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, only stavudine (d4T) (1.74 [1.01–2.98]) and lopinavir/ritonavir (2.46 [1.28–4.71]) were associated with the metabolic syndrome after adjustment for age and BMI. CONCLUSIONS—The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among these HIV-infected patients is similar to that previously reported in uninfected individuals. Of specific concern is the association of protease inhibitor exposure with the metabolic syndrome and, more specifically, with exposure to stavudine and lopinavir/ritonavir when individual antiretroviral drugs were analyzed.

A simple score with a limited number of non-invasive variables successfully predicted cardiac mortality in a real-life cohort of CHF patients. The use of this model in clinical practice identifies a subgroup of high-risk patients that should be closely managed.