title: NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters in patients with acute heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyse the relation between clinical, haemodynamic and X-ray parameters and plasma NT-proBNP level in pts with symptoms of left ventricular dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The plasma NT-proBNP levels, chest x-ray, transthoracic 2-d and Doppler echocardiography were performed at the time of admission in a group of 96 consecutive patients (mean age 68 +/- 11 years) with symptoms of acute heart failure. NT-proBNP levels were assessed with the use of commercial tests (Roche Diagnostics).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients have significant increase in NT-proBNP (8000 +/- 9000 pg/mL vs. controls 90 +/- 80 pg/mL, p < 0.001). The group of all patients has shown a significant increase in cardiothoracic ratio (CTR, 0.6 +/- 0.1, vs. 0.4 +/- 0.1, p < 0.001), left atrium diameter (LAD, 4.4 +/- 0.8 cm, vs.3.5 +/- 0.4 cm, p < 0.01). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was decreased (37 +/- 15%, vs. 64 +/- 5%, p < 0.001). In patients with acute heart failure, NT-proBNP significantly correlated with end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricle diameters, ejection fraction, vena cava inferior diameter and plasma creatinine levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased plasma NT-proBNP level is influenced by the clinical severity of acute heart failure and correlates with LVEF and IVCD. NT-proBNP can serve as a marker for the clinical severity of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, 1st Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Czech Republic. pudilradek@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pudil
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tichý
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Praus
authors.forename: Václav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bláha
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vojácek
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain