NT-ProBNP levels are moderately increased in acute high-altitude pulmonary edema

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of B-type natriuretic peptides (BNPs) in acute high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). The study enrolled 46 subjects from lowland Han, including 33 individuals who had acutely ascended to a high altitude (21 individuals with HAPE as the case group and 12 individuals without HAPE as the high-altitude control group) and 13 healthy normal residents as the plain control group. The serum concentrations of N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), erythropoietin (EPO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured. There were significant differences in the serum concentrations of NT-ProBNP, NO, VEGF and EPO among the three groups. The serum concentrations of NT-ProBNP, EPO and VEGF were significantly higher in the HAPE patients and high-altitude control individuals than those of the plain group. No significant differences were identified between the HAPE patients and the high-altitude control group. In contrast to these three parameters, the serum concentrations of NO in the high-altitude control group were significantly higher than those of the HAPE patients and the plain group, while there were no significant differences in the serum concentrations of NO between the HAPE patients and the plain group. Furthermore, serum concentrations of NT-ProBNP and EPO were significantly reduced following treatment in the HAPE patients, however, no significant changes were identified in VEGF or NO concentrations. BNPs are increased in HAPE with severe hypoxia and right ventricular overload, but are decreased subsequent to treatment. BNPs may therefore be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of HAPE.