title: NT-pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels after valve replacement.
abstract: Elevated plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels have been demonstrated in patients with chronic valvular disease. To assess whether changes in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels after mitral, aortic, and double-valve replacement reflect changes in heart failure symptoms, a prospective observational nonrandomized study was undertaken in 24 consecutive patients (mean age, 55.3 ± 16.2 years; 58% male) undergoing mitral and/or aortic valve replacement. Mitral valve replacement was carried out in 12 patients, aortic valve replacement in 8, and combined mitral and aortic valve replacement in 4. N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide measurements, echocardiography, and functional class assessment were performed before and 6 months after surgery. A decrease in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide at 6 months postoperatively was significantly associated with decreased left atrial dimension, left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions, increased ejection fraction, and improvement in functional class. Thus we can hypothesize that measurement of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide might allow early detection of any clinical deterioration as well as assessment of the long-term outcome in valve replacement patients.
authors.affiliation: Adult Cardiology Department, Prince Salman Heart Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. elasfar_egy@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Abdelfatah A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Elasfar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain