Diagnostic value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in hemodialysis patients

Aim. To assess the diagnostic value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Material and methods. A total of 80 patients over the age of 18 with an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on HD were included in this study. NT-proBNP serum levels were measured for all patients in addition to traditional clinical and biochemical studies. Transthoracic echocardiography and bioimpedance spectroscopy using the Body Composition Monitor (BCM) device (Fresenius, Germany) were performed for all patients on HD. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the hydration status determined by BCM. Patients were also divided into three groups depending on the ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle: HF with reduced EF (less than 40%) (HFrEF), mid-range EF (from 40% to 49%) (HFmrEF), and HF with preserved EF (50% or more) (HFpEF). Three groups of patients were identified according to quartile level of NT-proBNP (<1095 pg/ml (n=20); 1095-4016 pg/ml (n=40); >4016 pg/ml (n=20).

Results. The median of the NT-proBNP serum level was 2114,6 [1095; 4016] pg/ml. A significant increase in the NT-proBNP levels was found in HD patients with hyperhydration (p<0,05). Statistically significant differences were generally found between the concentration of NT-proBNP depending on the LVEF (n=80). However, in pairwise comparisons, significant differences were found only between the groups of patients with HFpEF and HFmrEF (p=0,02); a tendency to differences was revealed when comparing the groups of HFpEF and HFrEF (p=0,07). A proportional increase in the concentration of prohormone to the increase in systolic dysfunction was found while analyzing the median NT-proBNP, both among all patients and after separation into groups depending on the hydration status. A tendency to increase the frequency of new cardiovascular events, systolic and diastolic myocardial dysfunction in group of patients with prohormone increase was revealed.

Conclusion. NT-proBNP serum levels in HD patients are significantly higher than the average population levels. A significant increase in the NT-proBNP levels was found in hemodialysis patients with hyperhydration. NT-proBNP should be used as an additional method for the diagnosis of heart failure on HD, including clarifying of the phenotype of heart failure depending on left ventricle EF. NT-proBNP high levels in patients on HD may be associated with a risk of developing cardiovascular events, systolic and diastolic myocardial dysfunction. It is necessary to use an examination algorithm for the differential diagnosis of heart failure and hyperhydration syndrome during dialysis: clinical examination, bioimpedansometry, transthoracic echocardiography, determination of serum NT-proBNP level.

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