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Brain natriuretic peptide detects cardiac abnormalities in mass screening
Author(s) -
Takase H.,
Toriyama T.,
Sugiura T.,
Takahashi A.,
Sugiyama M.,
Ohashi M.,
Ueda R.,
Dohi Y.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2007.01780.x
Subject(s) - asymptomatic , medicine , cardiology , brain natriuretic peptide , atrial fibrillation , natriuretic peptide , heart failure , left ventricular hypertrophy , diastole , valvular heart disease , blood pressure
Abstract Background Plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is elevated in asymptomatic patients with various cardiac abnormalities. We tested the hypothesis that measuring BNP is useful for detecting asymptomatic patients with cardiac abnormalities who are not identified by conventional health check‐up programmes. Materials and methods From 2001 to 2002, 6189 subjects (women 34·0%; mean age 56·6 years) underwent multiphasic health check‐ups in our hospital, of which 4818 without cardiac abnormalities as revealed by the health check‐up were enrolled in the present study. Their plasma concentrations of BNP were measured. Results Plasma concentrations of BNP were higher than the normal reference upper limit of our hospital (21·3 pg mL −1 ) in 925 of the 4818 subjects. Echocardiography was performed in 471 subjects who were randomly selected from the 925 subjects with elevated BNP. Abnormal findings were detected in 174 subjects, comprising valvular heart disease in 83, systolic dysfunction in 10, diastolic dysfunction in 54, left ventricular hypertrophy in 41, left ventricular enlargement in 11, left atrial enlargement in 13 and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in 3. Conclusions Since BNP measurement identifies additional subjects with cardiac abnormalities, it is useful for detecting asymptomatic cardiac abnormalities among apparently healthy subjects, and is suitable for use in high‐quality mass screening.