Comparison of pro B-natriuretic peptide in hypertensive patients with and without diastolic dysfunction.

AIM: to evaluate whether pro BNP can be used for detection of diastolic dysfunction. METHODS: thirty nine hypertensive patients with normal systolic function, consecutively referred for echocardiography examination between October and December 2004 were recruited in the study. Diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed when echocardiographic mitral flow pattern demonstrated impaired relaxation, pseudonormalization or restrictive like patterns. NT-pro BNP levels were assessed using electro chemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA) method. Unpaired t test was used to analyze the results. RESULTS: twelve out of thirty nine subjects had normal diastolic function. All base line characteristics, except for uric acid, were equally distributed between normal and abnormal diastolic function group. NT-pro BNP levels were nearly significantly higher in the diastolic dysfunction group (P=0.053). CONCLUSION: NT-pro BNP levels trends to be higher in hypertensive subjects with diastolic dysfunction.

Long QT Syndrome - A case report.

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an uncommon disease due to genetic defect and responsible for polymorphic VT (torsade-de pointes-TdP) and sudden cardiac death. A case of 25 year-old woman with palpitation, severe headache and recurrent syncopal episode since 16 year-old is reported. The ECG showed bigeminy ventricular premaure contraction (VPC) , prolonged QTc interval and abnormal T wave. Peripartal cardiomyopathy was diagnosed recently after the first delivery. In July 2002, she was hospitalized due to recurrent syncope, seizure proceeded by TdP and VF. On admission she need several times DC shock and temporary pacemaker with relatively high rate. Beta-blocker and implantation of dual chamber permanent pacemaker finally could control the malignant arrhythmias. During follow-up for 4 months, she was doing well and no syncopal episode occurred.