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Updated: Oct 8, 2026
Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Published on: June 27, 2025
Assessment of brain natriuretic peptide in patients with suspected heart failure: comparison with radionuclide
N Valli1, A Georges, J B Corcuff
1Service de Médecine Nucléaire, Hôpital du Haut-Lévêque, CHU de Bordeaux, Avenue Magellan, 33604 Pessac Cedex, France. nvalli@chu-bordeaux.fr
Background:
The aim of the study was to prospectively evaluate patients with suspected or known heart disease using plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement and radionuclide ventriculography to examine whether left ventricular dysfunction is associated with an abnormal rise of BNP concentration.
Methods:
Patients (n=153) and controls (n=14) underwent radionuclide ventriculography to determine Left ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) and measurement of plasma BNP concentration using a commercial kit.
Results:
Plasma BNP concentration in controls was significantly lower than that in patients whatever the stage of the disease, significantly lower than that of patients with normal LVEF (LVEF>55%); than that of patients with altered LVEF (LVEF< or =40%); and than that of patients with moderately reduced LVEF (40%
Conclusions:
Plasma BNP concentration provides a reliable and sensitive marker of LV systolic dysfunction evaluated by a nuclear medicine technique, and could be a potential screening test to identify patients for additional investigations.
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