B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with systemic right ventricle.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the diagnostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with systemic right ventricle.


METHODS
Plasma BNP levels were measured in 48 outpatients with D-transposition of the great arteries after atrial switch procedure or congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries.


RESULTS
Plasma BNP was < or =20 pg/ml in 52% and <200 pg/ml in all patients, significantly higher in females compared to males (p = 0.004), and positively correlated with age (r = 0.3, p = 0.04). New York Heart Association class I patients had significantly lower BNP than class II patients (p = 0.03). A positive correlation was found between BNP and severity of tricuspid regurgitation (r = 0.5, p < 0.001). Plasma BNP was weakly, negatively correlated to maximum exercise capability, peak oxygen uptake, maximum heart rate during exercise testing and minimal heart rate in the 24-hour Holter monitoring. Additionally, BNP was negatively correlated with flow velocity across the pulmonary valve in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (r = -0.81, p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma BNP is normal in patients with systemic right ventricle, but increases with deterioration of clinical status and decreasing exercise capability. BNP is positively correlated with severity of tricuspid regurgitation, a prognostic factor for survival.
Koch
Andreas M E
AM
Paediatric Cardiology, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany. Andreas.Koch@kinder.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Zink
Stefan
S
Singer
Helmut
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000097:blood* / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis
D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain