The relationship between NT-proBNP with valvular heart disease

In this study we investigated the relationship between NT-proBNP with valvular heart disease, any correlation in degrees of valvular heart disease with NTproBNP, whether the levels of NT-proBNP are lower in patients had undergone heart valve replacement and there is a relationship in NT-proBNP values with function of the valve in these patients. Also, we observed any relationship in NYHA functional class, echocardiographic parameters, age, body mass index (BMI), atrial fibrillation with NT-proBNP. 81 patients with valvular heart diseases as study group and 12 persons with no heart valve problems as control group added the study. Vivid-3 Image Point apparatus with 1.7 MHz cardiac probe used for echocardiographic examination in the study group. Blood samples taken from the study group used to calculate NT-proBNP values by using Elecys proBNP sandwich immunassay method. In patients who had valvular heart disease NT-proBNP values and atrial fibrillation were found higher than the control group. Left ventricle size, wall thicknesses, left atrium size, Edt values were higher, LVEF were lower. NT-proBNP values were positive correlated with age, left atrium, NYHA functional class, mitral and aortic insufficiency degrees, but there was no correlation in NT-proBNP values and BMI. NT-proBNP values also were higher in patients with AF. Patients with AVR or/and MVR had lower NT-proBNP values than patients had mitral and aortic valve disease. The difference from similar recent studies, in patients had probable disfunctional AVR, NT-proBNP values are higher than patients had normal functional AVR. NT-proBNP can be used as an important biochemical marker in diognosis and following up valvular heart disease, to find out the progression of the disease at early stage and timing of surgery.