title: NT-ProBNP in acute heart failure: correlation with invasively measured hemodynamic parameters during recompensation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level is elevated in patients with acute and chronic heart failure. This study addresses whether NT-proBNP correlates with invasively measured hemodynamic parameters and whether a decrease of NT-proBNP over time correlates with invasively monitored hemodynamic improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty consecutive patients with acute exacerbation of chronic heart failure (New York Heart Association class III-IV) were included in this prospective study. NT-proBNP and hemodynamic measurements by balloon-tipped pulmonary artery catheter were performed simultaneously. Recompensation strategies included vasodilators, diuretics, and inotropes. The patients were divided in 2 subgroups. Group A, by definition, had a hemodynamic improvement over 24 hours with an increase of cardiac index of >30% and a decrease of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of >30%. Group B did not show a hemodynamic improvement. Group A had a decline of NT-proBNP levels to 42% of the baseline value over 32 hours. In group B, the NT-pro BNP levels did not change significantly over 32 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decrease of NT-proBNP correlates with hemodynamic improvement in patients with decompensated heart failure. The relative changes of NT-proBNP seem to be a reliable diagnostic tool in monitoring these patients. There results have been confirmed in a larger patient group.
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic for Cardiology, Angiology, and Pneumology, Charité Campus Mitte--University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Knebel
authors.forename: Ingolf
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schimke
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pliet
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schattke
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Adrian C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baumann
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002407:Catheterization, Swan-Ganz; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain