title: [NT pro-BNP levels in pericardial diseases and how they are used as complementary evaluation method of diastolic restriction. Initial experience: 25 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether NT pro-BNP levels are high in patients reporting pericardial diseases, as well as to investigate how they relate to diastolic dysfunction echocardiographic measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients were split into two groups: 1) pericardial effusion (PE): 15 patients; 2) constrictive pericarditis (CP): 10 patients. A control group was made up with 30 individuals reporting no heart disease. Pericardial effusion was evaluated by bidimensional echocardiogram, with restriction evaluated by pulsed Doppler of mitral flow. CP diagnosis was confirmed by MRI. NT pro-BNP levels were measured by immunoassay and detected by electrochemiluminescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the 15 PD patients, 14 reported relevant PD, and only 1, moderate PD. Log NT pro-BNP was shown to be higher in PD (p < 0.05), with log mean of 2.31 pg/ml and CP (p < 0.05), with log mean of 2.67 pg/ml, when compared to control group, log mean of 1.32 pg/ml. No difference was reported between PD and CP (p = 0.149). The NT pro-BNP log showed to be correlated to peak velocity of the E wave (r = 0.845; p = 0.001) and with E/A (r = 0.717; p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NT pro-BNP is shown to have increased in pericardial diseases, and is associated to diastolic dysfunction. It may serve as an additional method in quantifying restriction.
authors.affiliation: Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo, SP. car_fabio@incor.usp.br
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Izabel José de
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Félix J A
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ramires
authors.forename: Paula C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: Vera M C
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Salemi
authors.forename: Bárbara M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ianni
authors.forename: Rogério
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabelo
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mady
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain