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Plasma B‐type natriuretic peptide concentration in β‐thalassaemia patients
Author(s) -
Aessopos Athanasios,
Farmakis Dimitrios,
Polonifi Aikaterini,
Tsironi Maria,
Fragodimitri Christina,
Hatziliami Antonia,
Karagiorga Markisia,
DiamantiKandarakis Evanthia
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejheart.2006.12.004
Subject(s) - medicine , heart failure , ejection fraction , cardiology , natriuretic peptide , doppler echocardiography , diastole , ferritin , brain natriuretic peptide , heart disease , group b , blood pressure
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.