title: Relationship between CT findings and the plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide in 29 patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a useful biomarker for the assessment of cardiogenic pulmonary edema. This study evaluated the relationship between computed tomography (CT) findings and plasma BNP levels in patients with cardiogenic pulmonary edema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine consecutive outpatients with severe respiratory failure from cardiogenic edema presenting to emergency departments were enrolled. They underwent chest CT and plasma BNP levels were measured in the emergency room. CT findings were independently evaluated by two radiologists who were unaware of the patients' clinical information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma BNP levels only correlated with the volume of pleural effusion in each side (right: r(s) = 0.519, P = .004; left: r(s) = 0.460, P = .012). No significant correlation was observed between the BNP levels and the findings of lung parenchyma or cardiovascular enlargement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estimating the pleural effusion volume with CT may be a feasible method as well as measuring the plasma BNP level in the assessment of acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine 2, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan, 1-1 Idaigaoka Hasama-machi, Oita, Japan 879-5593. komiyakh1@oita-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kosaku
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komiya
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Hidehiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Fumito
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Katashi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Johkoh
authors.forename: Jun-ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kadota
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain