Plasma Levels of the NT- Pro BNP in Patients Presenting with Heart Failure

In view of the high morbidity and mortality of patients with congestive heart failure, early diagnosis is of paramount importance. To assess the diagnostic and prognostic utility of plasma levels of the NT- Pro BNP in patients presenting with heart failure this study was carried out. This cross-sectional study was performed on patients with heart failure admitted in the cardiology ward of Taleghani Medical Center during a certain period from 2005- 2006. Subjects with acute coronary syndrome, hyperthyroidism, renal failure (GFR< 60), severe valvular stenosis, severe pulmonary disease, ARDS, hepatic cirrhosis, primary hyperaldosteronism and the candidates for heart transplant were excluded from the study. Blood samples were collected and plasma levels of NT-Pro BNP were measured by ELISA method (Biomedica- crop, Bratislava Slovakia). Results were documented and analyzed using SPSS software. Mann- Whitheny and KrusKall-Wallis tests were utilized for analysis. Values were analyzed for confounding variables (e.g age, sex, blood pressure, ischemic heart disease and NYHA class). 79 patients full filled the criteria of inclusion. 70% were males and mean age of patients was 63  14 years. Mean plasma NT-Pro BNP level was 421  387. In subjects < 60 years of age, the mean levels were 309  300, and among those 60 years it was 486 419, (P< 0.05). With advancing clinical stage, the mean plasma level of NT-Pro BNP increased 6 folds, (P< 0.01), whereas with advancing NYHA class it increased 4 folds (P< 0.01). It seams that plasma NT- Pro BNP level is a suitable indicators of the severity of heart failure.