title: [Relation of the plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide with cardiac dysfunction and liver function in patients with cirrhosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and evaluate their relationships with cardiac structure and function and liver function in patients with cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with cirrhosis underwent two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography. The cirrhotic patients were divided into groups according to Child-Pugh score:Child-Pugh class A, n=15; Child-Pugh class B, n=20; Child-Pugh class C, n=15. Cardiac dimensions and left and right ventricular functions were evaluated. In addition, the plasma NT-proBNP was detected in the 50 cirrhotic patients and 11 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of plasma NT-proBNP was significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than in healthy controls (240.15+/-80.87 pg/mL vs.55.86+/-20.13 pg/mL, P=0.000).The Child-Pugh class A, B and C groups showed no differences for left ventricular diameter, right ventricular diameter, septal thickness, left ventricular wall thickness, E wave, A wave, aortic annulus diameter, and the value of E/A.However, the left atrial diameter was significantly lower in the A group than in the C group (29.83+/-3.76 mm vs.35.08+/-3.68 mm, P=0.015) and in the B group than in the C group (31.78+/-4.05 mm vs.35.08+/-3.68 mm, P=0.000); there was no significant difference between the A and B groups. The plasma NT-proBNP was significantly lower in the A group than the C group (189.20+/-20.25 pg/mL vs.300.13+/-34.96 pg/mL, P=0.000) and in the B group than in the C group (202.34+/-31.20 pg/mL vs.300.13+/-34.96 pg/mL, P=0.000); there was no significant difference between the A and B groups (P=0.302).The NT-proBNP level was positively correlated with the left atrial diameter and the left ventricular wall thickness (r=0.540, P=0.000 andr=0.309, P=0.029 respectively).In addition, the NT-proBNP showed correlation with Child-Turcotte-Pugh score (r=0.454, P=0.001), albumin level (r=-0.376, P=0.007) and total bilirubin level (r=0.283, P=0.047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  s Increased levels of plasma NT-proBNP are related to disease severity in patients with cirrhosis.Furthermore, cardiac dysfunction in patients with cirrhosis may be related to increased plasma levels of NT-proBNP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Medicine, the First People's Hospital of Jiulongpo District in Chongqing, Chongqing 400050, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jing-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Wan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain