We wanted to find out if pharmacotherapy in HF (heart failure) patients (NYHA classes III-IV) guided by NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide) concentration would produce a superior outcome to the therapy based on clinical symptomatology. The study lot included 67 randomized patients between 36 and 37 years old, with an left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40% and a symphtomatic HP, classes NYHA III and IV. After the initial evaluation the patiens have been divided in two groups: a group of 32 patients have been treated according to the concentration of NT-proBNP in the blood, named therefore the BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) group and a group of 35 patients who have been treated according to the clinic sympthomatology; they form the clinical group. NT-proBNP-guided treatment of HF reduced total cardiovascular events compared with the clinically guided treatment.

Key words: heart failure, study, NT-proBNP, LFVE.