Siriwardena M, et al. - Researchers investigated the long-term predictive significance of a single and serial point of care (POC) B-type natriuretic-peptide (BNP) measurements among 111 prospectively recruited ambulatory patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) (mean age 53 ± 16 years). At baseline and at a 1-2 year follow-up, they obtained a clinical assessment, comprehensive echocardiogram, and a POC BNP level. The occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was also assessed during follow-up. They found that POC BNP levels showed independent and incremental value in predicting long term MACE in patients with HC. Also, they noted a higher risk of MACE among those with persistently elevated BNP levels.