title: Brain natriuretic peptide and left ventricular dysfunction in Chagas' disease.
abstract: Left ventricular dysfunction in Chagas' disease is common but can be difficult to detect. We investigated whether measurement of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) could identify patients with left ventricular dysfunction who need further investigation or treatment. Among patients with an abnormal electrocardiogram or chest radiograph, a BNP concentration of 60.7 pmol/L or higher has a sensitivity and positive predictive value of 80%, and specificity and negative predictive value of 97%. Measurement of plasma BNP concentration could be a useful method to screen patients with Chagas' disease.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Course of Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. tom@hc.ufmb.br
authors.forename: Antonio Luiz P
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Adelina Martha
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: dos Reis
authors.forename: Marcio Vinicius L
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Marcos Roberto
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: Ana Luiza L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Amanda Arantes
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Jacqueline Braga
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Fernando Santana
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Manoel Otávio C
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain