ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been identified as a promising biochemical marker for congestive heart failure (CHF). Recently, the NT-proBNP assay using electrochemiluminescence method has been developed. We evaluated clinical utilities of the NT-proBNP assay and its relationship with echocardiographic parameters. METHODS: The NT-proBNP was measured in eighty-four patients who experienced an echocardiographic examination. We compared the NT-proBNP level with several echocardiographic parameters for the left ventricular systolic function and cardiac chamber dimensions. RESULTS: The NT-proBNP level was significantly increased as with a decreasing left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). It was also positively correlated with the left ventricular mass, left ventricular mass index, left ventricular end diastolic dimension, and left ventricular end systolic dimension. In patients with left atrial and ventricular enlargement, the mean NT-proBNP level was 7418.4 +/-9937.7 pg/mL, which was significantly elevated compared with 354.3 +/-749.8 pg/mL in patients with normal cardiac chamber dimensions (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The NT-proBNP showed a significant correlation with echocardiographic parameters, especially for the systolic function and chamber enlargement. Therefore, the NT-proBNP seemed to be a new and promising alternative biochemical marker for CHF.