NT-proBNP is not elevated in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.
BACKGROUND
N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) has emerged as an important marker of cardiac stress and may reflect the severity of underlying cardiac dysfunction, which is thought to be associated with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS).


METHODS
This study evaluated the plasma concentration of NT-ProBNP in 60 consecutive patients (median age 55.7 years, median body mass index (BMI) 31.8) who were referred to a sleep laboratory with a suspicion of OSAS. Each subject underwent measurement of morning NT-ProBNP plasma levels, polysomnography and echocardiography. Patients were treated with nasal continuous or bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation (nCPAP/BIPAP) or without mechanical respiratory support, depending on clinical symptoms and results of polysomnography. Three months after treatment of OSAS 28 of the patients were reassessed for re-evaluation of NT-ProBNP and polysomnography.


RESULTS
Low or high levels of NT-proBNP were not associated with AHI and other sleep related indices (p>0.3). There was no correlation between NT-proBNP and AHI or other sleep related indices. In multiple regression analysis, NT-proBNP was significantly correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction, creatinine clearance and the presence of systemic arterial hypertension but not with AHI.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show by a robust multiple regression analysis, that NT-pro BNP is not associated with OSAS and NT-pro BNP cannot be used as a sensitive marker for underlying cardiovascular abnormalities in patients with OSAS.
Hübner
Ralf-Harto
RH
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Schittenhelmstrasse 12, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
El Mokhtari
Nour Eddine
NE
Freitag
Sandra
S
Rausche
Tim
T
Göder
Robert
R
Tiroke
Andreas
A
Lins
Markus
M
Simon
Rüdiger
R
Bewig
Burkhard
B
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy
D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain