title: Function of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in Takayasu arteritis disease monitoring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Inflammation may also affect levels of NT-proBNP. We investigated the relationship of NT-proBNP with inflammation, disease activity, disease severity, and progression of Takayasu arteritis (TA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma levels of NT-proBNP were determined in 68 patients with TA and in 90 control subjects. Disease activity and disease severity in patients with TA were defined according to the National Institutes of Health and Ishikawa's criteria, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NT-proBNP levels were higher in patients with active disease (915.0 ± 328.0 pmol/l) and patients in remission (618.2 ± 243.4 pmol/l) than in controls (427.2 ± 81.4 pmol/l) (p < 0.001). Patients with severe TA showed significantly higher NT-proBNP levels than those with mild-moderate TA (924.0 ± 332.4 pmol/l vs 653.8 ± 269.1 pmol/l; p = 0.001). In patients with longitudinal data, NT-proBNP levels at the active phase were significantly higher than those at the stable phase (944.1 ± 216.7 pmol/l vs 552.1 ± 178.2 pmol/l; p = 0.001). Inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and white blood cell count, were independently associated with NT-proBNP levels after adjustment for other confounding factors (R(2) adjusted = 0.307, p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NT-proBNP levels were significantly increased in patients with active TA exhibiting complications. NT-proBNP levels were independently associated with inflammation. These results indicate that NT-proBNP may be a useful marker to assess the status, severity, and progression of TA.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.Q. Liu, MD; A. Dang, MD, PhD; B. Chen, MD; N. Lv, MD, PhD; X. Wang, MD; D. Zheng, MD, Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.Q. Liu, MD; A. Dang, MD, PhD; B. Chen, MD; N. Lv, MD, PhD; X. Wang, MD; D. Zheng, MD, Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. amdang@fuwaihospital.org.
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.Q. Liu, MD; A. Dang, MD, PhD; B. Chen, MD; N. Lv, MD, PhD; X. Wang, MD; D. Zheng, MD, Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.
authors.forename: Bingwei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.Q. Liu, MD; A. Dang, MD, PhD; B. Chen, MD; N. Lv, MD, PhD; X. Wang, MD; D. Zheng, MD, Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.
authors.forename: Naqiang
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.Q. Liu, MD; A. Dang, MD, PhD; B. Chen, MD; N. Lv, MD, PhD; X. Wang, MD; D. Zheng, MD, Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.Q. Liu, MD; A. Dang, MD, PhD; B. Chen, MD; N. Lv, MD, PhD; X. Wang, MD; D. Zheng, MD, Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College.
authors.forename: Deyu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: DISEASE STATUS; INFLAMMATION; N-TERMINAL PRO-BRAIN NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE; TAKAYASU ARTERITIS