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European Journal of Heart Failure 2007 9(5):537-541; doi:10.1016/j.ejheart.2006.12.004
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© 2006 European Society of Cardiology

Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide concentration in β-thalassaemia patients

Athanasios Aessoposa, Dimitrios Farmakisa,*, Aikaterini Polonifia, Maria Tsironia, Christina Fragodimitrib, Antonia Hatziliamib, Markisia Karagiorgab and Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakisa

a Cardiac Outpatient Clinic for Hemoglobinopathies, First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens Medical School, Laiko General Hospital Greece
b Thalassemia Unit, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital Athens, Greece

* Corresponding author. 182 Kallergi St, Piraeus 18544, Greece. Tel./fax: +30 210 461 9778. E-mail address: dimitrios_farmakis{at}yahoo.com


  Abstract

Background: Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration has significant diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value in various forms of heart disease. Whether BNP is also useful in the evaluation and management of thalassaemia heart disease remains to be determined.

Methods and results: Eighty three thalassaemia major patients; 8 with acutely decompensated heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III or IV, group A), 25 with NYHA class II symptoms and impaired systolic left ventricular function (ejection fraction<55% or fractional shortening<30%, group B) and 50 with normal systolic function (group C), as well as 50 healthy controls, were studied. Assessment included history, physical examination, Doppler echocardiography and plasma BNP determination. Mean BNP levels were 431±219 pg/mL (range, 283–890 pg/mL) in group A, 158±31 pg/mL in group B, 176±54 pg/mL in group C and 43±24 pg/mL in controls. BNP levels were significantly higher in group A (p<0.001), but did not differ between groups B and C. Moreover, BNP was not correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular mass, right ventricular diameter index, Doppler diastolic indexes (except in group C), the mean 2-year serum ferritin concentration or the peak serum ferritin concentration in any of the three patient groups.

Conclusion: A potential deficiency of BNP-related neurohormonal mechanisms may impair its clinical usefulness in thalassaemia major.

Key Words: Thalassaemia • Natriuretic peptides • BNP • Heart failure

Received May 25, 2006; Revised September 9, 2006; Accepted December 4, 2006


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