NT-proBNP and Echocardiographic Parameters in Patients with Acute Heart Failure

Pudil, Radek; Tichý, Miloš; Praus, Rudolf; Bláha, Václav; Vojáček, Jan

doi:10.14712/18059694.2017.59

Acta Medica > Archive > 2007, Vol. 50 > Issue 1 > NT-proBNP and Echocardiographic…

Acta Med. 2007, 50: 51-56

https://doi.org/10.14712/18059694.2017.59

NT-proBNP and Echocardiographic Parameters in Patients with Acute Heart Failure

Radek Pudil^a, Miloš Tichý^b, Rudolf Praus^a, Václav Bláha^c, Jan Vojáček^a

^aCharles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové, 1st Department of Medicine – Division of Cardiology, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
^bCharles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové and University Hospital Hradec Králové, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
^cUniversity of Defence Brno, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Hradec Králové, Department of AD Systems, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Received November 1, 2006
Accepted January 1, 2007

Aim. The aim of this study was to analyse the relation between clinical, haemodynamic and X-ray parameters and plasma NT-proBNP level in pts with symptoms of left ventricular dysfunction. Methods. The plasma NT-proBNP levels, chest x-ray, transthoracic 2-d and Doppler echocardiography were performed at the time of admission in a group of 96 consecutive patients (mean age 68 ± 11 years) with symptoms of acute heart failure. NT-proBNP levels were assessed with the use of commercial tests (Roche Diagnostics). Results. All patients have significant increase in NT-proBNP (8 000 ± 9 000 pg/mL vs. controls 90 ± 80 pg/mL, p < 0.001). The group of all patients has shown a significant increase in cardiothoracic ratio (CTR, 0.6 ± 0.1, vs. 0.4 ± 0.1, p <0.001), left atrium diameter (LAD, 4.4 ± 0.8 cm, vs.3.5 ± 0.4 cm, p <0.01). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was decreased (37 ± 15%, vs. 64 ± 5%, p <0.001). In patients with acute heart failure, NT-proBNP significantly correlated with end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricle diameters, ejection fraction, vena cava inferior diameter and plasma creatinine levels. Conclusion. Increased plasma NT-proBNP level is influenced by the clinical severity of acute heart failure and correlates with LVEF and IVCD. NT-proBNP can serve as a marker for the clinical severity of the disease.