Brain not processing: Is finding a role for BNP in sepsis like fitting a square peg into a round hole?

Abstract

Since its introduction to the intensive care setting a decade ago, B-type natriuretic peptide has been the focus of studies in different areas (in particular, sepsis). With this biomarker, as with many newly identified biomarkers, its diagnostic performance was pursued initially and then its ability to predict outcomes. Despite all the efforts, results have not been consistent and the applications of B-type natriuretic peptide in the intensive care setting remain by and large academic. Will such studies one day become clinical practice? Or are we too obsessed with finding a place for every biomarker? © 2014 McLean and Huang; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.