Objective: To compare the plasma concentrations of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP) in patients with heart failure due to various heart diseases and analyze the influencing factors.
Methods: We enrolled a total of 804 heart failure patients due to various heart diseases, including valvular heart disease (VHD), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), ischemic heart diseases (IHD), restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), hypertensive heart disease (HHD), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), pulmonary heart disease (PHD) and adult congenital heart disease (CHD). The plasma concentration of NT-proBNP was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to detect the influencing factors for the plasma concentration of NT-proBNP.
Results: The plasma concentration of NT-proBNP had no significant difference between patients with VHD, DCM, IHD, RCM, HCM, PHD, HHD and CHD. The median (25 percent, 75 percent) values were 1866 (803 - 3973), 2247 (1087 - 3865), 2400 (1182 - 4242), 2456 (1385 - 5839), 2204 (1053 - 3186), 2285 (1155 - 3424), 2313 (655 - 3850) and 2768 (795 - 4371) pmol/L respectively (P > 0.05). It increased with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class from II through III to IV. The median (25 percent, 75 percent) values were 646 (447 - 1015), 2160 (1118 - 3750) and 3342 (1549 - 5455) pmol/L respectively (P < 0.01). The patients with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 25 kg/cm(2) had a lower NT-proBNP concentration than those with a BMI of < 25 kg/cm(2). The median (25 percent, 75 percent) values were 1468 (784 - 3177) and 2424 (1090 - 4213) pmol/L respectively (P < 0.01). Patients with a serum creatinine concentration of ≥ 107 µmol/L had a higher NT-proBNP concentration than those < 107 µmol/L. The median (25 percent, 75 percent) values were 3337 (1470 - 5380) and 1644 (781 - 3375) pmol/L respectively (P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that NYHA class, creatinine, BMI, hepatic damage and diastolic pressure were independently associated with the plasma concentration of NT-proBNP (all P < 0.01).
Conclusion: The plasma concentration of NT-proBNP has no significant difference between heart failure patients due to various heart diseases. Its level may be affected by NYHA class, serum creatinine, BMI, hepatic damage and diastolic pressure.