Abstract: Objective To study the clinical value of serum N-terminal B-type brain natriuretic peptide（NT-proBNP） level for the diagnosis of heart failure（HF）. Methods NT-proBNP levels were measured with golloidal gold method in 152 HF patients,60 healthy controls and 75 HF patients on days 3,8 and 16 after routine anti-HF treatment. Results The serum NT-proBNP level was significantly higher in HF patients（Ⅰ-Ⅳ） than in healthy controls（P＜0.01）,which increased gradually with the degree of Killip class（P＜0.05） and was positively related with the Killip class（r=0.774,P＜0.01）.The serum NT-proBNP levels were different in patients with HF due to different cardiovascular diseases,and significantly higher in patients with acute myocardial infarction than in those with other cardiovascular diseases（P＜0.05） while significantly lower in patients with hypertension and ischemic myocardiopathy than in those with other cardiovascular diseases.The serum NT-proBNP level decreased gradually in patients with Killip class Ⅲ and Ⅳ after treatment（P＜0.05）. Conclusion The serum NT-proBNP level is significantly higher in HF patients,which is related with the NYHA functional classification,and is thus a good indication for the diagnosis of HF.