title: Assessment of factors affecting plasma BNP levels in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and preserved left ventricular systolic function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have reported that plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are increased in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of this study was to assess the factors influencing plasma BNP levels in patients with chronic AF and preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 104 patients (48 men, 56 women; mean age, 63.9+/-10.7 years) with chronic AF. At the same time, plasma BNP levels were measured with a Triage kit (Biosite, San Diego, CA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women, long duration of AF, and hypertension were more prevalent in the highest quartile group of BNP levels than in the lowest quartile of BNP. Significant correlations were observed between plasma BNP levels and the following: mitral E velocity (r=0.343), mitral annular E' velocity (r=-0.402), ratio of mitral E velocity and mitral annular E' velocity (r=0.487), left atrial(LA) size (r=0.653), LA volume index (r=0.775), right atrial (RA) volume index (r=0.563), maximal velocity (V(max)) of mitral regurgitation (MR) (r=0.448), tricuspid regurgitation (TR) V(max) (r=0.532) and LV mass index (r=0.581). In stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, LA volume index (beta=0.326, p<0.001), LV mass index (beta=0.395, p<0.001) and duration of AF (beta=0.492, p<0.001) independently predicted plasma BNP levels in the study subjects. The patients with increased LA volume index exhibited a longer duration of AF, larger RA volume index and LV mass index, higher MR V(max), TR V(max) and plasma BNP level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LA volume index, LV mass index and duration of AF are independent predictors of plasma BNP levels in patients with chronic AF and preserved LV systolic function.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 108 Pyung-Dong, Jongro-Gu, Seoul 100-634, Korea. bjjake.kim@samsung.com
authors.forename: Byung Jin
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Ki Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Bum Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Man Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung Ro
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain