[The diagnostic value of N-terminal probrainnatriuretic peptide in patients with dyspnea]

To investigate the diagnostic value of N-terminal probrainnatriuretic peptide in patients with dyspnea.

One hundred and six patients with dyspnea were divided into two groups: cardiac dyspnea group (62 cases) and non-cardiac dyspnea group(44 cases). Moreover, according to the results of echocardiography, the cases in cardiac dyspnea group were divided into three subgroups: diastolic heart failure (25 cases), systolic heart failure (22 cases), as well as diastolic and systolic heart failure (15 cases). It was also classified according to NYHA heart function classification: NYHA III (16 cases), NYHA III (25 cases), NYHA IV (21 cases). All patients underwent NT-proBNP assay.

The NT-proBNP level in cardiac dyspnea group was significantly higher than that in non-cardiac dyspnea group [(2597.43 +/- 2390.44) pg/mL vs (72.91 +/- 48.41) pg/mL, P < 0.001]. In cardiac dyspnea group, the NT-proBNP level in the cases with diastolic heart failure, systolic heart failure, as well as diastolic and systolic heart failure were (810.16 +/- 672.03) pg/mL, (1903.04 +/- 1829.22) pg/mL, and (7598.50 +/- 4781.82) pg/mL respectively, which was significant different in these three subgroups (P < 0.05). The significant difference was also observed in different NYHA class CNYHA II (862.76 +/- 818. 46) pg/mL, NYHA III (2444.75 +/- 556.61) pg/mL, NYHA IV (7574.60 +/- 3721.39) pg/mL, P < 0.05). The concentration of NT-proBNP had a negative correlation with LVEF (r = -0. 812).

Measurement of NT- proBNP is helpful to diagnose heart failure and to differentiate the patients with dyspnea.