Guo X, et al. – Researchers investigated the role of plasma N-terminal brain natriuretic pro-peptide (NT-proBNP) in diagnosing elderly patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) associated with left heart failure (LHF). AEOCPD was diagnosed in 655 patients according to echocardiographic criteria, and the levels of NT-proBNP in plasma were measured by quantitative electrochemiluminescence assay. They noted markedly elevated plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP in elderly patients with AECOPD associated with LHF vs those with only AECOPD, suggesting the possible utility of NT-proBNP plasma levels in diagnosing AECOPD associated with LHF.