Brain Natriuretic Peptide Shows Promise as Biomarker in Group 1 PAH

Patients with group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were shown to have brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels that correlated with right heart catheterization, a measure typically used to define the disease, according to the results of a study published by Diseases.

Measurements of simultaneously obtained BNP levels and right heart catheterization in patients with group 1 PAH (n=138) were retrospectively reviewed and examined for correlations between the 2 variables.

Of the study participants, the highest disease classification distribution was idiopathic PAH (n=54) and connective tissue disease-related PAH (n=54). Patients also had portal hypertension and PAH that was induced by drugs or toxins, was related to congenital heart disease, was heritable, or was related to HIV. 

The mean BNP level for all patients was 405.9±443.1 pg/mL. There was a significant relationship between BNP level and mortality. Moreover, the natural log of the BNP levels showed significant positive correlations with right atrial pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance, and showed negative correlations with both cardiac output and cardiac index.

The study authors wrote, “This study provides supportive evidence of a more prominent role for BNP levels in the monitoring of [patients with] PAH.”

They also added, “[A]ny elevation in BNP was associated with worse survival; therefore, it may serve as an indicator of poorer outcomes. As such, any elevation in BNP in group 1 PAH may be clinically significant.”

Reference

Helgeson SA, Imam JS, Moss JE, Hodge DO, Burger CD. Comparison of brain natriuretic peptide levels to simultaneously obtained right heart hemodynamics in stable outpatients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Diseases. 2018;6:33.