title: NT-proBNP levels in systemic sclerosis: association with clinical and laboratory abnormalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors related to NT-proBNP levels in systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  NT-proBNP was measured in 119 patients with SSc and 20 controls. Patients with transtricuspid gradient (TG) > or =36 mm Hg or > or =31 mmHg plus dyspnea were considered to have suspected systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SScPAH).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increasing age, NYHA functional class, skin score, history of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), anticentromere antibodies, diastolic dysfunction, reduced pulmonary diffusing capacity, and TG were positively associated with NT-proBNP. In multivariable linear regression, TG, age, and SAH were independently associated to NT-proBNP levels. An ROC curve analysis (with an area under the curve of 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83-0.95) suggested a cutoff of 157.8pg/mL to identify patients with suspected SScPAH, presenting a sensitivity of 100% (78.1-100) and specificity of 72.3% (62.3-80.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NT-proBNP levels are related to clinical and laboratory abnormalities in SSc. The results indicate that NT-proBNP may be a useful tool in the evaluation of SScPAH.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Weinmann, Porto Alegre, Brazil. oravec@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Rejane Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Oravec
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bredemeier
authors.forename: Claudia Cilene
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Laurino
authors.forename: Antônio Fernando Furlan
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Pinotti
authors.forename: Luis Eduardo Paim
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: João Carlos Tavares
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Brenol
authors.forename: Ricardo Machado
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Xavier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014280:Triglycerides
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014280:Triglycerides; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain