Plasma NT-proBNP is a potential marker of disease severity and correlates with symptoms in patients with chronic rheumatic valve disease.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A noninvasive marker of disease severity and presence of symptoms is required in patients with chronic rheumatic valve disease (RVD).

AIMS:

We sought to test the utility of measuring of N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in chronic phase RVD. We also evaluated whether echocardiographic measures are interrelated with NT-proBNP levels.

METHODS:

The study comprised 92 patients with RVD (mean age of 40+/-14 years) and 50 age/gender-matched control subjects. Functional status was assessed. Detailed echocardiographic examination was performed and mitral valve score was estimated. Venous blood samples were taken for measuring the level of NT-proBNP.

RESULTS:

The plasma levels of NT-proBNP rose with increasing severity of mitral valve stenosis (p<0.001), increasing severity of mitral valve score (p<0.001), increasing severity of clinical symptom (p<0.001), increasing severity of mitral regurgitation (p<0.013), presence of mitral valve calcification (p<0.001), presence of tricuspid valve stenosis (p<0.001), increasing severity of tricuspid regurgitation (p<0.011), presence of aortic stenosis (p=0.043), decreasing left ventricular ejection fraction (p<0.001), presence of left atrial thrombus (p=0.0019), and with increasing left atrium dimensions (p=0.002).

CONCLUSION:

NT-proBNP levels in patients with chronic RVD are a potential marker of disease severity and correlates with symptoms.

• Authors: Vedat Davutoglu, Ahmet Celik, Mehmet Aksoy, Yusuf Sezen, Serdar Soydinc, Nurullah Gunay
• Journal: European journal of heart failure (Eur J Heart Fail) Vol. 7 Issue 4 Pg. 532-6 (Jun 2005) ISSN: 1388-9842 [Print] England
• PMID: 15921791 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Peptide Fragments
• pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76)
• Natriuretic Peptide, Brain

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aortic Valve Insufficiency (blood)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Chronic Disease
• Heart Valve Diseases (blood, diagnostic imaging)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mitral Valve Insufficiency (blood)
• Natriuretic Peptide, Brain (blood)
• Peptide Fragments (blood)
• Rheumatic Heart Disease (blood, diagnostic imaging)
• Ultrasonography