Changes in plasma level of B-type natriuretic peptide and myocardial performance index according to clinical improvement in patients with heart failure

Shin, Mi Seung; Ahn, Tae Hoon; Choi, In Suk; Shin, Eak Kyun

Abstract

BACKGROUN: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac neurohormone secreted from ventricles as a response to ventricular volume expansion and pressure overload. Myocardial performance index (MPI) reflects cardiac systolic and diastolic function and increase in the patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of clinical status of CHF, BNP level, and MPI.
METHODS
We followed 30 patients (mean age: 64 +/- 13) admitted with symptomatic New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III to IV CHF. Medical treatment was done. Biochemical study including BNP level and evaluation of left ventricular (LV) function including MPI by echocardiography were performed at admission and 2 months later.
RESULTS
Mean BNP level increased to 488.64 +/- 519.85 pg/mL at admission with symptomatic CHF and significantly decreased to 319.56 +/- 385.39 pg/mL (p-value: 0.014) after clinical improvement. Mean MPI tended to decrease from 0.62 +/- 0.37 to 0.45 +/- 0.26. Readmission rate in 4 months was high in the patients with small decrease in BNP level. At admission, the patients with symptomatic CHF showed increased MPI despite of normal LV systolic function and tendency to decrease in MPI after clinical improvement.
CONCLUSION
Increased BNP level and MPI of patients admitted with symptomatic CHF decreased with clinical improvement. The results suggest that BNP level and MPI might be useful to guide treatment of patients with CHF and changes in BNP level during treatment are predictors of early readmission.