ABSTRACT
Background: Increased N-terminal pro-B-type natriureticpeptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations are associated withcardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients. The presentstudy was conducted to assess the role of NT-proBNP as amarker of cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients.Materials and Methods: NT-proBNP concentrations weremeasured in 50 prevalent hemodialysis patients to examine therisk of 90-days and 1-year mortality associated with baselineNT-pro BNP concentrations. Data was analyzed usingstandard descriptive statistics. Wilcoxon signed rank test andWelch two sample t-test were used in “R” commanderstatistical software.Results: The NT –pro BNP values at the entry into the study ofshort term i.e.90 days follow up death group were significantly(p value = 0.002647) high when compared to remaining livedialysis participants (n = 40). But the difference in NT –proBNP values at the entry into the study between death and liveparticipants was not statistically significant (p value = 0.7785)in long term i.e.1 year follow up participants. The difference inserum sodium at the time of entry, is statistically significant (p =0.03564), between live and dead groups at the end of shortterm follow up.Conclusion: Elevated NT-proBNP concentrations wereobserved in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients ondialysis at the entry of study and these values were associatedwith cardiac mortality in them. NT –pro BNP acts as a newermarker for cardiovascular risk in dialysis patients of ESRD.