N-terminal pro-BNP in sclerodermic patients on bosentan therapy for PAH.
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by vascular dysfunction that may lead to pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). The N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proNBP), a marker of cardiac failure, is a diagnostic marker of early PAH in patients with SSc without heart failure. Our aim was to determine whether NT-proBNP levels may be a useful tool to evaluate the response to bosentan therapy in patients with PAH secondary to SSc. Ten patients with symptomatic, severe PAH secondary to SSc, received bosentan, 62.5 mg twice a day for 4 weeks followed by 125 mg twice a day for 7 months. Ten patients with SSc without PAH served as controls for basal level of NT-proBNP. Blood samples were obtained before the beginning of the therapy and after 3 and 7 months of treatment. SSc patients with PAH had significantly higher serum levels of NT-proBNP than those without PAH, at baseline. After 3 and 7 months of therapy, NT-proBNP concentration showed a progressive decrease, nearly approaching statistical difference at 7 months when compared to baseline levels (P=0.953 and P=0.600). Our results show that serum NT-proBNP levels may be a useful marker for the response to bosentan therapy in patients with PAH secondary to SSc.
Simeoni
Sara
S
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, P.le LA Scuro 37134, Verona, Italy.
Lippi
Giuseppe
G
Puccetti
Antonio
A
Montagnana
Martina
M
Tinazzi
Elisa
E
Prati
Daniele
D
Corrocher
Roberto
R
Lunardi
Claudio
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000077300:Bosentan; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013449:Sulfonamides; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D000077300:Bosentan