[NT-proBNP and atrioventricular plane displacement. Relationship and diagnostic implications].
OBJECTIVE
NT-proBNP is useful in the diagnosis of heart failure and ventricular dysfunction. Left atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) is a consolidated index of ventricular function. Our objective was to carry out a multicenter population-based study to establish the relationship between plasma NT-proBNP levels with AVPD values.


METHODS
We studied 215 subjects (age 66 9 years; 57.7% women) chosen from a random sample of 432 people from the Community of Valencia, who previously reported suffering from some degree of dyspnea. Doppler echocardiography was done, AVPD was calculated and plasma NT-proBNP concentrations were determined. All studies were completed in 194 patients.


RESULTS
For the whole population NT-proBNP was 88 (0-2,586) pg/ml and AVPD was 11.9 1.6 mm. NT-proBNP concentration correlated well with AVPD (r = 0.44; p < 0.00001), and higher peptide levels were obtained in AVPD quartiles that indicated less displacement (p < 0.05). When NT-proBNP values were grouped according to their association with AVPD lower or higher than the 50th percentile AVPD, the difference was significant at p < 0.01. When AVPD values lower and higher than 10 mm were compared, NT-proBNP values were higher in persons with AVPD lower than 10 mm (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This population study found higher NT-proBNP concentrations in subjects with lower AVPD, and illustrates the potential diagnostic usefulness of NT-proBNP in clinical practice.
Rivera
Miguel
M
Centro de Investigación. Hospital La Fe. Valencia. España. rivera_jmi@gva.es
Cortés
Raquel
R
Mora
Vicente
V
Miró
Vicente
V
Cosín
Juan
J
Jordán
Alejandro
A
García de Burgos
Fernando
F
Salvador
Antonio
A
Sogorb
Francisco
F
Marín
Francisco
F
Climent
Vicente
V
Bertomeu
Vicente
V
Frutos
Araceli
A
Taléns
Raquel
R
Payá
Rafael
R
Pérez Boscá
José L
JL
Diago
José L
JL
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain