The changes of plasma neuropeptide Y and neurotensin levels in patients with heart failure / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the changes of plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and neurotensin (NT) levels in patients with heart failure and investigate their clinical significance. Methods The levels of plasma NPY, NT of 76 patients with heart failure and 28 normal controls were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The color echocardiogram was used to evaluate the cardiac structure, function and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results The level of plasma NPY in patients with heart failure [(159.7 ± 56.3) ng/L] was higher than that in normal controls [(120.8 ± 51.9) ng/L] (P < 0.05), the level of plasma NT [(69.5 ± 29.6) ng/L] was significantly lower than that in normal controls [(99.1 ± 19.3) ng/L] (P < 0.01). Following the severity of heart failure, the level of plasma NPY increased, and the level of plasma NT decreased. The level of LVEF had negative correlative relationship with the level of plasma NPY (γ = -0.31, P < 0.05) and positive correlative relationship with the level of plasma NT (γ = 0.28, P < 0.05). The level of plasma NPY and NT in patients with heart failure had negative correlative relationship (γ = -0.26, P < 0.05). Conclusions The levels of plasma NPY, NT in patients with heart failure are unbalanced. This unbalance may participate in the damage of cardiac function.