NT-proBNP levels and diastolic dysfunction in beta-thalassaemia major patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure in beta-thalassaemic patients is related to survival. Iron alone or in combination with other factors causes diastolic dysfunction, which usually precedes systolic dysfunction. NT-proBNP is a sensitive biomarker of ventricular dysfunction.

AIM:

To evaluate NT-proBNP in non heart failure beta-thalassaemic patients.

METHODS:

Fifty-two beta-thalassaemia major patients (mean age: 27.2+/-12.5 years) with normal LV systolic function, underwent NT-proBNP measurement and a thorough Doppler-echocardiographic and pulsed tissue-Doppler study, 4 days following blood transfusion. Fifty-two age matched healthy controls were also studied.

RESULTS:

NT-proBNP and E/E' ratio were increased in thalassaemic patients compared with controls [(469+/-171 vs 262+/-51 pmol/l, p<0.001) and (10.8+/-4.0 vs 6.6+/-1.1, p<0.001)] and were well correlated (r: 0.54, p<0.01). Although NT-proBNP levels were increased in patients with higher E/E' ratios (E/E' <8: 354+/-119, 8-15: 516+/-177, >15: 565+/-114 pmol/l, ANOVA p: 0.002) this increase only became statistically significant in the 3rd decade of life, while E/E' ratio increased in the 4th decade.

CONCLUSION:

NT-proBNP increases in beta-thalassaemia major patients and is related to age and LV diastolic dysfunction. NT-proBNP appears to be an early biomarker of LV diastolic dysfunction, compared with the conventional Echo-Doppler indexes.

• Authors: Dimitrios Th Kremastinos, Dimitrios P Tsiapras, Anna G Kostopoulou, Eftihia S Hamodraka, Antigoni S Chaidaroglou, Evangelia D Kapsali
• Journal: European journal of heart failure (Eur J Heart Fail) Vol. 9 Issue 5 Pg. 531-6 (May 2007) ISSN: 1388-9842 [Print] England
• PMID: 17317307 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

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

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Analysis of Variance
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Blood Flow Velocity
• Case-Control Studies
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Diastole
• Echocardiography, Doppler
• Female
• Ferritins (blood)
• Greece
• Hemoglobins (metabolism)
• Humans
• Linear Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Natriuretic Peptide, Brain (blood)
• Observer Variation
• Peptide Fragments (blood)
• Research Design
• Stroke Volume
• Ventricular Dysfunction, Left (blood, diagnostic imaging, epidemiology, etiology, physiopathology)
• Ventricular Pressure
• beta-Thalassemia (blood, complications, epidemiology, physiopathology)