title: Bedside tests of B-type natriuretic peptide in the diagnosis of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in diagnosing left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  The left ventricular diastolic function and plasma BNP levels were assessed prospectively in 135 hypertensive patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma BNP in patients with (n=61) and without (n=74) diastolic dysfunction was 122+/-105 and 18+/-16 pg/ml, respectively (p<0.001). Increased BNP levels were associated with systolic blood pressure (p<0.05), left ventricular mass index (p<0.001), the E/A ratio of transmitral flow (p<0.01) and the isovolumic relaxation time (p<0.01). A receiver-operator characteristic curve showing the sensitivity and specificity of BNP against the echocardiography diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction revealed an area under the curve (accuracy) of 0.904 (p<0.01). Using a cut-off value of >40 pg/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of plasma BNP in diagnosing left ventricular diastolic dysfunction were 79% and 92%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The plasma BNP levels in patients with hypertension are closely related to left ventricular hypertrophy and filling impairment. Plasma BNP may be used to facilitate the diagnosis of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Lishui City Central Hospital, Zhejiang Province, PR China. lswtm@sina.com
authors.forename: Tiemin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Chunlai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qunying
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ruiying
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ganxin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chunling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Lexin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain