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BNP as marker of heart dysfunction in patients with liver cirrhosis

Javier Padillo1, Pilar Rioja, María C Muñoz-Villanueva

  • 1Department of Surgery, Virgen del Rocío University Hospital-IBiS, Sevilla, Spain. javierpadiruiz@hotmail.com

European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
|August 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

In liver cirrhosis patients, elevated brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels indicate critical cardiac dysfunction. This finding aids in assessing surgical risk and patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hepatology
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Liver cirrhosis is associated with significant cardiac dysfunction.
  • Cardiac dysfunction in cirrhotic patients can impact surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of natriuretic peptides in assessing cardiac dysfunction in liver cirrhosis.
  • To correlate natriuretic peptide levels with disease severity and cardiac function.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective longitudinal study of 30 liver cirrhosis patients.
  • Assessed cardiac function using brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and isotopic ventriculography.
  • Evaluated disease severity using Child-Turcotte-Pugh and MELD scores.

Main Results:

  • A correlation was found between BNP levels and MELD scores.
  • Dobutamine improved myocardial performance and decreased BNP levels.
  • BNP demonstrated prognostic value for ejection fraction, with levels >70 pg/ml indicating ~45% ejection fraction.

Conclusions:

  • Increased baseline BNP concentrations, alongside high Child and MELD scores, signify critical cardiac dysfunction in cirrhotic patients.
  • BNP serves as a valuable marker for cardiac dysfunction in liver cirrhosis.
Abstract

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