title: NT-proBNP is increased in healthy pregnancies compared to non-pregnant controls.
abstract: Serum concentrations of the amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may be used to monitor cardiac function during pregnancy but normal values are not established for this purpose. Therefore, we investigated NT-proBNP in normotensive healthy pregnancies compared to a non-pregnant control group. Serum NT-proBNP was measured in 94 normotensive, healthy pregnant women (32+/-6 years) every five weeks beginning from 12th gestational week (GW) in a longitudinal study and compared to a non-pregnant control group of 521 women (32+/-7 years). Pooled median serum NT-proBNP levels (25th; 75th percentile) were significantly higher in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women (56 (33; 95) pg/ml vs. 38 (22; 62) pg/ml (p<0.001)). NT-proBNP increased during pregnancy to 73 (51; 124) pg/ml in the 11+6 to 15+6 GW (p<0.001). However, NT-proBNP levels from 23+0 GW towards term were comparable to non-pregnant controls. NT-proBNP is significantly elevated in healthy pregnancies until mid-pregnancy. As preeclampsia and gestational hypertension are associated with increased NT-proBNP, our results have to be considered in future diagnostic approaches using NT-proBNP for these pathologic conditions.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Maximilian B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreas
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schiessl
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeisler
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neubauer
authors.forename: Stefan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kastl
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rhomberg
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zdunek
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlembach
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heinze
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Szekeres
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gottsauner-Wolf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain