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BNP Levels and Diastolic Heart Failure

January 7, 2004 - We studied whether high blood BNP level can
predict diastolic heart failure (DHF) whether or not the left
side of the heart is enlarged.
	19 patients were our DHF group. They were picked from
372 patients coming to our emergency department for acute lung
congestion but with no acute heart failure or heart attack.
They had EFs averaging 45% on admission and were stable for
the following year.
	A control group was 22 high blood pressure patients
with left heart size at least as big as the DHF patients and
with EFs also averaging 45%. Control patients had not yet had
any heart-related symptoms.
	BNP level was higher in the DHF group (149 pg/ml) than
in control patients (31 pg/ml). There was no difference in left
ventricle size between groups.
	We conclude that high BNP blood level in patients with
normal systolic function may indicate diastolic heart failure.
This is true whether or not the left ventricle is enlarged.

Title:   Elevation of plasma brain natriuretic peptide is a
         hallmark of diastolic heart failure independent of
         ventricular hypertrophy.
Authors: Hitoshi Yamaguchi, Junichi Yoshida, Kazuhiro Yamamoto,
         Yasushi Sakata, Toshiaki Mano, Noriyuki Akehi,
         Masatsugu Hori, Young-Jae Lim, Masayoshi Mishima,Tohru
         Masuyama.
Source:  J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004 Jan 7;43(1):55-60.
PMID:    14715184.