title: Right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism: NT-proBNP vs. troponin T.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dysfunction of the right ventricle (RV) is a parameter of severity in acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Echocardiographic assessment is not always possible in accident and emergency, hence the need to predict the presence of RV dysfunction using easily measurable parameters. To analyse the value of NT-proBNP and troponin T as markers of RV dysfunction in patients with acute PE. Secondarily, to assess the relationship between RV failure and clinical parameters related to PE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analytical, observational, cross-sectional and retrospective study comparing the values NT-proBNP, troponin T and presenting symptoms of PE among patients with and without RV dysfunction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy-two patients (52 with RV failure,120 without) were included. All symptoms occurred with similar frequency between the 2groups except dyspnea and syncope (more common in the group with RV failure). Both NT-proBNP and troponin T had significantly higher values in the group of patients with RV dysfunction. However, in the multivariate analysis, NT-proBNP had a higher explanatory value for RV failure than troponin T.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NT-proBNP is a diagnostic parameter of RV dysfunction with higher sensitivity in the context of acute PE.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España; Universidad Católica San Antonio, Murcia, España. Electronic address: marilenacotugno@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cotugno
authors.affiliation: Universidad Católica San Antonio, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Jacinto
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orgaz-Molina
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rosa-Salazar
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España; Universidad Católica San Antonio, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guirado-Torrecillas
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España; Universidad Católica San Antonio, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Bartolomé
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: García-Pérez
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020107:Troponin T / Q000097:blood*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D020107:Troponin T; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
keywords: Acute pulmonary embolism; Disfunción de ventrículo derecho; Embolia pulmonar aguda; NT-proBNP; Right ventricular dysfunction; Troponin T; Troponina T