My Mother Is 78 And The Doctor Said Her BNP

Posted on Mon, 21 Jan 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : My mother is 78 and the doctor said her BNP is 1100. She was only diagnosed at 77 for the first time with AFIB, after experiencing blackouts and extreme fatigue. The cardiologist later tested and found that she no longer needed to take her meds, that Afib was no longer detected. Could that season of Afib contribute to her high BNP, and is 1100 an indication of what, in a normally very healthy person who never had any other heart conditions?

Answered by Dr. Dr.Dorina Gurabardhi (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Probably high level of BNP in your mother case can be related to the Afib episode.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

I understand your concern.

BNP test is a blood test that measures levels of a protein called BPN that is made by your heart and blood vessels.

The increase of BNP levels is related to heart failure.

BNP levels rise during an afib episode.

So, the rising of BNP level in your mother case can be related to the Afib episode.

The BNP normal range is between 100 pg/ml and 400 pg/ml.

So, the level of BNP in your mother case is higher than normal.

This indicates a higher risk of heart failure.

I would recommend regular check ups of the heart condition.

I suggest to do a regular EKG and measure frequently the blood pressure.

If your mother develops further symptoms you should consult a cardiologist for further evaluation.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T