Assessment of brain natriuretic peptide in patients with suspected heart failure: comparison with radionuclide ventriculography data.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to prospectively evaluate patients with suspected or known heart disease using plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement and radionuclide ventriculography to examine whether left ventricular dysfunction is associated with an abnormal rise of BNP concentration.


METHODS
Patients (n=153) and controls (n=14) underwent radionuclide ventriculography to determine Left ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) and measurement of plasma BNP concentration using a commercial kit.


RESULTS
Plasma BNP concentration in controls was significantly lower than that in patients whatever the stage of the disease, significantly lower than that of patients with normal LVEF (LVEF>55%); than that of patients with altered LVEF (LVEF< or =40%); and than that of patients with moderately reduced LVEF (40%<LVEF< or =5%). Comparisons between groups of patients showed that the more severe the disease, the higher the BNP level. From the ROC curve, a plasma BNP concentration of 52 pg/ml was attached to a 85% sensitivity and 82% specificity in identifying patients with LVEF< or =40%.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma BNP concentration provides a reliable and sensitive marker of LV systolic dysfunction evaluated by a nuclear medicine technique, and could be a potential screening test to identify patients for additional investigations.
Valli
N
N
Service de Médecine Nucléaire, Hôpital du Haut-Lévêque, CHU de Bordeaux, Avenue Magellan, 33604 Pessac Cedex, France. nvalli@chu-bordeaux.fr
Georges
A
A
Corcuff
J B
JB
Barat
J L
JL
Bordenave
L
L
D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D015635:Radionuclide Ventriculography
D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain