ABSTRACT
History A 78-year-old male presents to his GP with a 3-month history of increasing shortness of breath when walking and swelling of his ankles. On examination, his jugular venous pressure is raised 6 cm, there is ankle oedema and scattered crepitations at both bases. On the presumptive diagnosis of cardiac failure, his GP organizes blood tests including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).
