Triage BNP and Troponin I Assays in Advanced Heart Failure, a Substudy of the Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catherization Effectiveness (ESCAPE)

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), proatrial natriuretic peptide, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) will be measured at randomization, discharge, 90:1:14 days, and 180:1:14 days. Samples for troponin I and T will also be measured at randomization, discoorge, 90:1:14 days, and 1801:14 days. Samples for rapid assay BNP and rapid assay troponin I also will be measured. Patients who are randomized to the CLIN arm will have samples drawn at randomization, discharge, 301:14 days, and 90:i:l4 days. Patients who are randomized to the PAC arm will have samples drawn at randomization, baseline PAC readings, next day PAC readings, final PAC readings, discharge, 30:i:l4 days, and 90:1:14days.