Elevation of B-type natriuretic peptide level in asymptomatic hepatitis B virus-positive patients is not associated with abnormalities of cardiac function.
OBJECTIVE
To compare B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and echocardiographic parameters in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and healthy control subjects.


METHODS
52 consecutive patients with HBV and 47 healthy controls were examined. All subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography after a complete medical history and laboratory examination including BNP, C-reactive protein (CRP) and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP).


RESULTS
Demographic characteristics were similar in patients with HBV and the control group. No significant difference was found in conventional Doppler and tissue Doppler parameters between the two groups. BNP levels were significantly higher in patients with HBV [6.5 ng/l (range 0.5-85.2)] than controls [4.3 ng/l (range 0.5-18.3)], p = 0.039. hsCRP [3.25 mg/l (0.02-40.2) vs. 0.5 mg/l (0.02-8.0)] levels were significantly higher in patients with HBV than control subjects (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with HBV had higher BNP, CRP, and hsCRP levels than controls. Echocardiographic findings were similar in both groups. This slight BNP elevation in HBV patients may be related to chronic inflammation due to HBV.
Department of Internal Medicine, Kecioren Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Metin
M
Kucukazman
Naim
N
Ata
Bunyamin
B
Yavuz
Kursat
K
Dal
Derun Taner
DT
Ertugrul
Ahmet Arif
AA
Yalcin
Onur Sinan
OS
Deveci
Omer
O
Sen
Kadir Okhan
KO
Akin
Zeynep
Z
Cizmeci
Muhammed
M
Sacikara
Yasar
Y
Nazligul
D000328:Adult; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002097:C-Reactive Protein