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European Journal of Heart Failure 2005 7(4):532-536; doi:10.1016/j.ejheart.2004.07.006
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© 2005 European Society of Cardiology

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

Vedat Davutoglua,*, Ahmet Celikb, Mehmet Aksoya, Yusuf Sezena, Serdar Soydinca and Nurullah Gunayc

a Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Sahinbey Medical Center, Gaziantep University Guneykent mah. Besyuzevler sitesi 7.Blok. Daire: 10, TR-27310-Sahinbey/Gaziantep, Turkey
b Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Sahinbey Medical Center Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, TR-27310, Turkey
c Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Sahinbey Medical Center Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, TR-27310, Turkey

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 342 3606060x7507; Fax: +90 342 3603928. E-mail address: davutoglu{at}gantep.edu.tr


  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.

Key Words: Rheumatic valve disease • NT-proBNP • Mitral valve score • Echocardiography • Functional status

Received April 25, 2004; Revised June 12, 2004; Accepted July 12, 2004


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