title: Effect of gastric banding on aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in the morbidly obese.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), like brain natriuretic peptide, might have diagnostic utility in detecting left ventricular hypertrophy and/or left ventricular dysfunction. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between morbid obesity and NT-proBNP and the effect of weight reduction on this parameter.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 34 morbidly obese patients underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). NT-proBNP levels were measured before and 12 months after the surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metabolic features and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly decreased (p < 0.00001 for both) after a cumulative weight loss of 19.55 kg 1 year after LAGB. NT-proBNP concentration was significantly higher in morbidly obese patients before LAGB than in normal-weight control subjects (341.15 +/- 127.78 fmol/mL vs. 161.68 +/- 75.78 fmol/mL; p < 0.00001). After bariatric surgery, NT-proBNP concentration decreased significantly from 341.15 +/- 127.78 fmol/mL to 204.87 +/- 59.84 fmol/mL (p < 0.00001) and remained statistically significantly elevated (204.88 +/- 59.84 fmol/mL vs. 161.68 +/- 75.78 fmol/mL; p = 0.04) compared with normal-weight subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation demonstrates higher levels of NT-proBNP in morbidly obese subjects and a significant decrease during weight loss after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. In obesity, NT-proBNP might be useful as a routine screening method for identifying left ventricular hypertrophy and/or left ventricular dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine V, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria. c.enserer@utanet.at
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hanusch-Enserer
authors.forename: Katharina Maria
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.forename: Edmund
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cauza
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spak
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mähr
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dunky
authors.forename: Harald R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Köller
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prager
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain