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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Simple and reliable tests to diagnose heart failure in elderly patients presenting with symptoms or signs of impaired left ventricular function would be of great practical importance. In recent years, brain natriuretic peptides have emerged as a promising, novel test. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in contrast to radioimmunosorbent assay, does not require long incubation periods and would be particularly suitable to assist rapid diagnosis on site in primary and emergency care settings. The systematic review by Doust et al¹ of test accuracy studies is therefore timely and of great interest, but not without limitations. We have 3 observations.

First, Doust et al¹ included only 3 studies that examined rapid ELISA, despite the fact that at least 4 additional studies of this test system exist. No comprehensive comparisons between the bedside ELISA and radioimmunosorbent assay can therefore be made. Second, it is unclear how the authors reached the conclusion that brain . . . [Full Text of this Article]

AUTHOR INFORMATION
Markus Battaglia, MD, MPH; Lucas M. Bachmann, MD, PhD; Matthias Egger, MD, MScMFPHM

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Diagnostic Accuracy of Natriuretic Peptides for Heart Failure—Reply
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Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(10):1199.
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Diagnostic Accuracy of Natriuretic Peptides for Heart Failure--Reply
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Arch Intern Med 2005;165:1199-1199.
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