title: Comparison of N-terminal pro B-natriuretic Peptide and echocardiographic indices in patients with mitral regurgitation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Echocardiographic indices can form the basis of the diagnosis of systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with Mitral regurgitation (MR). However, using echocardiography alone may bring us to a diagnostic dead-end. The aim of this study was to compare N-Terminal pro B-natriuretic peptide (BNP) and echocardiographic indices in patients with mitral regurgitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  2D and Doppler echocardiography and BNP serum level were obtained from 54 patients with organic mild, moderate and severe MR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BNP LEVELS WERE INCREASED WITH SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH MITRAL REGURGITATION (NYHAI: 5.7 ± 1.1, NYHAII: 6.9 ± 1.5, NYHAIII: 8.3 ± 2 pg/ml, P < 0.001). BNP plasma level were significantly correlated with MPI (myocardial performance index) (r = 0.399, P = 0.004), and following echocardiographic indices: LVEDV (r = 0.45, P < 0.001), LVESV (r = 0.54, P < 0.001), LVEDD (r = 0.48, P < 0.001), LVESD (r = 0.54, P < 0.001), dp/dt (r = -0.32, P = 0.019) and SPAP (r = 0.4, P = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed that BNP may be useful in patients with MR and may confirm echocardiographic indices.
authors.affiliation: Rasoul Akram Medical Centre, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Shokoufeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hajsadeghi
authors.forename: Niloufar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samiei
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.forename: Maleki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majid
authors.forename: Ladan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kashani
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amani
authors.forename: Arezoo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salami
authors.forename: Melika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asefi
authors.forename: Negin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farsi