Utility of B-natriuretic peptide in detecting diastolic dysfunction: comparison with Doppler velocity recordings

Although Doppler echocardiography has been used to identify abnormal left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling dynamics, inherent limitations suggest the need for additional measures of diastolic dysfunction. Because data suggest that B-natriuretic peptide (BNP) partially reflects ventricular pressure, we hypothesized that BNP levels could predict diastolic abnormalities in patients with normal systolic function.

We studied 294 patients referred for echocardiography to evaluate ventricular function. Patients with abnormal systolic function were excluded. Cardiologists making the assessment of LV function were blinded to BNP levels. Patients were classified as normal, impaired relaxation, pseudonormal, and restrictivelike filling patterns. Patients diagnosed with evidence of abnormal LV diastolic function (n=119) had a mean BNP concentration of 286 +/- 31 pg/mL; those in the normal LV group (n=175) had a mean BNP concentration of 33 +/- 3 pg/mL. Patients with restrictive like filling patterns on echocardiography had the highest BNP levels (408 +/- 66 pg/mL), and patients with symptoms had higher BNP levels in all diastolic filling patterns. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for BNP to detect any diastolic dysfunction was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.87 to 0.95; P<0.001). A BNP value of 62 pg/mL had a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 83%, and an accuracy of 84% for detecting diastolic dysfunction.

A rapid assay for BNP can reliably detect the presence of diastolic abnormalities on echocardiography. In patients with normal systolic function, elevated BNP levels and diastolic filling abnormalities might help to reinforce the diagnosis diastolic dysfunction.