level of brain natriuretic peptide in patients with mitral stenosis before and after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty

The aim is to assess the plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide before and after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty in patients with mitral stenosis. The brain natriuretic peptide level was measured in 20 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis and in another 20 age- and gender- matched healthy subjects as a control group. Patients with mitral stenosis underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty. Plasma brain natriuretic peptide level was measured before and after the procedure. The level of brain natriuretic peptide was found to be higher in patients with mitral stenosis [239.5 pg/ml] compared to the control group [15 pg/ml]. The level of brain natriuretic peptide was found to be reduced from 239.5 pg/ml to 162.75 pg/ml after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty. The level of brain natriuretic peptide was found to be reduced in patients with mitral stenosis after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty. This reduction was found to be correlated with the reduction in pulmonary artery systolic pressure [r=0.7] and the increase in the mitral valve area [r=0.55]

Can we predict the occurrence of mitral regurgitation during percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty?

Mitral regurgitation is a frequent complication of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty. The creation of a new or an increase in preexisting one has been reported in 19 to 85% of patients undergoing percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty. The aim of this work is to evaluate whether we can predict the occurrence of significant mitral regurgitation during percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty with the use of C-reactive protein [CRP], erythrocytic sedimentation rate [ESR] and leucocytic count or not. 20 patients who developed significant mitral regurgitation during percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty [group A] were retrospectively compared to another 20 age- and sex-matched control group [group B] who did not develop mitral regurgitation as regard CRP, ESR and leucocytic count. ESR, CRP and leucocytic count were found to be significantly higher in group A than in group B. Higher levels of ESR, CRP and leucocytosis can predict the occurrence of significant mitral regurgitation in patients undergoing percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty