Elevation of B-type natriuretic peptide level in asymptomatic Hepatitis B virus-positive patients is not associated with abnormalities of cardiac function

To compare B-type natriuretic peptide [BNP] and echocardiographic parameters in patients with hepatitis B virus [HBV] and healthy control subjects. 52 consecutive patients with HBV and 47 healthy controls were examined. All subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography after a complete medical history and laboratory examination including BNP, C-reactive protein [CRP] and high-sensitivity CRP [hsCRP]. Demographic characteristics were similar in patients with HBV and the control group. No significant difference was found in conventional Doppler and tissue Doppler parameters between the two groups. BNP levels were significantly higher in patients with HBV [6.5 ng/l [range 0.5-85.2]] than controls [4.3 ng/l [range 0.5-18.3]], p = 0.039. hsCRP [3.25 mg/l [0.02-40.2] vs. 0.5 mg/l [0.02-8.0]] levels were significantly higher in patients with HBV than control subjects [p < 0.001]. Patients with HBV had higher BNP, CRP, and hsCRP levels than controls. Echocardiographic findings were similar in both groups. This slight BNP elevation in HBV patients may be related to chronic inflammation due to HBV

role of surface ECG and transthoracic echocardiography for predicting postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery

To evaluate the roles of surface electrocardiogram ECG and transthoracic echocardiography ECHO for prediction of atrial fibrillation AF after coronary artery bypass grafting CABG. This study was conducted from 2002-2004 at the Cardiovascular Department of Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Seventy consecutive patients were enrolled in this study that underwent elective CABG. A 12-lead ECG was recorded one day before cardiac surgery and was repeated during the 5 days after CABG. P-wave dispersion PWD was defined as the difference between maximum and minimum P-wave duration. Differences in P-wave duration were compared between the pre- and postoperative 12-lead ECG measurements. Postoperative AF developed in 17 24% cases of 70 patients. The PWD was found to be significantly higher in patients with AF preoperatively 60 +/- 19 versus 47 +/- 13, p=0.003, postoperative first day 56 +/- 12 versus 44 +/- 11, p<0.002 and fifth day 51 +/- 29 versus 41 +/- 11, p<0.001. Patients with AF were significantly older, the mean age of the AF group was 68 +/- 7 years and of the sinus rhythm SR group was 59 +/- 10 years p<0.001. The AF group had left ventricular systolic dysfunction 56 +/- 13% versus 56 +/- 8%, p=0.042, preoperatively; 49 +/- 8% versus 60 +/- 10%, p=0.001, postoperatively and a larger left atrium 46 +/- 5 versus 39 +/- 5 mm, p<0.001, preoperatively and 44 +/- 7 versus 39 +/- 5 mm, p=0.046, postoperatively than the SR group. This prospective study demonstrated that PWD on surface ECG and additional echocardiographic parameters are simple and reliable indexes to predict the development of AF after CABG