title: N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide as a biochemical marker in the evaluation of bosentan treatment in systemic-sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: The purpose of our study was to investigate the effect of bosentan treatment on surrogate markers in patients with systemic-sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension (SScPAH). We studied ten SScPAH patients (nine female, median age 58 years, median duration of disease 9 years). Six-minute walk test (SMWT) and plasma N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were recorded from patients at baseline and after 20 weeks under bosentan treatment. Wilcoxon paired signed rank test was applied in order to compare NT-proBNP levels and SMWT at baseline and week 20. At week 20, NT-proBNP levels were decreased from a median of 474 fmol/ml (range, 212-1407 fmol/ml) at baseline to 238 fmol/ml (range, 198-335 fmol/ml; p=0.002). Mean SMWT distance increased from a baseline median value of 323 m (range, 224-368 m) to 372 m (range, 232-530 m), representing a nonsignificant increase. Our results suggest that NT-proBNP is a biochemical surrogate marker, which could be used to evaluate the effects of bosentan or other vasodilation therapy in SScPAH.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dimitroulas
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannakoulas
authors.forename: Haralambos
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karvounis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koliakos
authors.forename: Tilemahos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sfetsios
authors.forename: Hara
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dimitroula
authors.forename: Loukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Settas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D000077300:Bosentan; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013449:Sulfonamides; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D000077300:Bosentan