The diagnostic values of brain natriuretic peptid and cardiac troponin for determining the right ventricule dysfunction in patients with submassive pulmomary thromboembolism

Determinig the right ventricule dysfunction (RVD) in pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is very important for prognosis and treatment option. RVD is usually diagnosed by echocardiographic findings. Recent studies have suggested that the measurement of levels of serum levels of cardiac troponın I (cTnI) and brain natriuretic peptid (BNP) which cardiac biomarkers can define RVD.The aim of this study is evaluating the diagnostic value of BNP, cTnI serum levels for determining RVD in patients with submassive PTE.Fifty patients with definitive diagnosis of PTE is included in the study. For determining a probable RVD, echocardiography is applied to them. Serum BNP, cTnI levels were measured during admission.Fifty-two of the patients included in the study, RVD were detected with EKO. In 44% of the patients high levels of BNP and 10% of the patients high l cTnI were found respectively. High levels of BNP was found in %73 of patients with RVD (+) and in %12 of patients with RVD (-). High levels of cTnI was found in %12 of patients with RVD (+) and in %8 of patients with RVD (-). BNP levels were significantly high in patients with RVD (+) when compared with RVD (-), and control group. When cTnI levels of groups are compared no significant difference was observed.In conlusion, it is suggested that high levels of BNP can be thought as a marker for RVD, patients who have high levels of BNP can be followed closely, and determined for thrombolitic therapy.Key words: Acute pulmonary tromboembolism, right ventricule dysfunction, cardiac biomarkers