Accuracy of Point-of-Care B-Line Lung Ultrasound in Comparison to NT-ProBNP for Screening Acute Heart Failure

E Glöckner; M Christ; F Geier; P Otte; U Thiem; S Neubauer; V Kohfeldt; K Singler

doi:10.1055/s-0042-108343

Accuracy of Point-of-Care B-Line Lung Ultrasound in Comparison to NT-ProBNP for Screening Acute Heart Failure

Ultrasound Int Open. 2016 Sep;2(3):E90-2. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-108343. Epub 2016 Jul 26.

Authors

E Glöckner¹, M Christ², F Geier¹, P Otte³, U Thiem⁴, S Neubauer¹, V Kohfeldt¹, K Singler⁵

Affiliations

¹ Geriatrics, Klinikum Nuernberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany.
² Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany.
³ Radiology, Klinikum Nuernberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany.
⁴ Department of Geriatrics, Marienhospital Herne, University Bochum, Nürnberg, Germany.
⁵ Department of Geriatrics, Klinikum Nuernberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany; Institute for Biomedicine of Aging, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Nürnberg, Germany.

Abstract

Aim: The objective of this pilot study was to determine the accuracy of point-of-care B-line lung ultrasound in comparison to NT Pro-BNP for screening acute heart failure.

Materials and methods: An 8-zone lung ultrasound was performed by experienced sonographers in patients presenting with acute dyspnea in the ED. AHF was determined as the final diagnosis by 2 independent reviewers.

Results: Contrary to prior studies, B-line ultrasound in our study was highly specific, but moderately sensitive for identifying patients with AHF. There was a strong association between elevated NT-proBNP levels and an increased number of B-lines.

Conclusion: In conclusion, point-of-care lung ultrasound is a helpful tool for ruling in or ruling out important differential diagnoses in ED patients with acute dyspnea.

Keywords: chest ultrasound; emergency care; thoracic ultrasound; thorax.