title: Usefulness of NT-proBNP level for diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients. A cardiac magnetic resonance study.
abstract: The presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients. We investigated the diagnostic value of the N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level for detecting LVH in hypertensive patients with a conserved left ventricular ejection fraction. The study involved 27 consecutive patients. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed to determine left ventricular mass and the plasma NT-proBNP level was measured. A significant correlation was found between the NT-proBNP level and left ventricular mass (r=0.598; P=.001). Use of a cut-off point of 35 pg/mL enabled the presence of LVH to be identified with a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 69%-100%) and a specificity of 70.6% (95% CI, 44.1%-89.6%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.867 (95% CI, 0.73-1; P< .05). The plasma NT-proBNP level may be useful for identifying patients with LVH.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Hipertensión Arterial, Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario San Juan de Alicante, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morillas
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quiles
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guillén
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maceira
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bertomeu
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain