Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2006, 150(2):285-288 | DOI: 10.5507/bp.2006.043

THE RELEVANCE OF BRAIN NATRIURETIC PEPTIDES INVESTIGATION IN VARIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Karel Kotaska^a, Jana Popelova^b, Marie Tiserova^d, Peter Telekes^c, Marie Vrzanova^d, Jiri Bronsky^a, Milada Halacova^a, Jiri Kukacka^a, Richard Prusa^a

^a Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic

^b Clinic of Cardiac Surgery, Hospital Homolka, Prague

^c Clinic of Cardiac Surgery, 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague

^d Clinic of Internal Medicine, 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Faculty Hospital Motol, Prague

Background: Brain natriuretic peptides are relevant markers of heart impairment.

Aim: We investigated the relevance of investiging brain natriuretic peptides (NT-proBNP, BNP) in monitoring different types of cardiovascular disease (chronic heart failure due to coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, acquired valve disease, congenital heart diseases).

Methods: The NT-proBNP assay (Roche) was performed on 280 patients (mean age 49 years; range 20-89 years) and 48 healthy controls (mean age 43 years; range 13-65 years) and BNP assay (Bayer Shionoria) was performed in a subgroup of 42 patients (mean age 50 years; range 20-79 years). Patients were divided into four groups characterized by severity of heart failure according to the New York Heart Association classification.

Results: NT-proBNP concentrations differed in patients with cardiovascular diseases from controls (median 371 ng/l versus 41.5 ng/l, p < 0.0001). The cut off value of NT-proBNP determined in 280 patients with cardiovascular diseases was at 130 ng/l (AUC-area under curve = 0.93; sensitivity 98 %; specificity 79 %). Comparison of NT-proBNP and BNP values in patients showed significant correlation (r = 0.93; p < 0.0001). NT-proBNP showed significant differences between groups.

Conclusions: Measurement of brain natriuretic peptides is useful and relevant in various types of heart diseases including congenital.

Keywords: Brain natriuretic peptides, BNP, NT-proBNP, Cardiovascular diseases, NYHA classification

Received: October 13, 2006; Accepted: November 14, 2006; Published: December 1, 2006  Show citation