Clinical Investigation of pro-BNP in Hepatic Cirrhosis Patients in an Emergency Department.
- Author:
Suk Woo LEE
1
;
Hoon KIM
;
Jung Soo PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea. drrhec@chungbuk.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Liver cirrhosis;
Pro-brain natriuretic peptide
- MeSH:
Ascites;
Emergencies;
Fibrosis;
Heart Failure;
Hemorrhage;
Humans;
Judgment;
Liver Cirrhosis;
Medical Records;
Natriuretic Peptide, Brain;
Plasma;
Prognosis;
Retrospective Studies
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2009;20(3):310-315
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Cardiac dysfunction may be present in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. This study was performed to evaluate the plasma concentration of pro Brain Natriuretic Peptide (pro-BNP), a marker of severity of hepatic cirrhosis and cardiac dysfunction. METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 85 patients who had been diagnosed with hepatic cirrhosis and admitted through the emergency department. Circulating levels of pro-BNP, Child-Pugh class and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score were determined. RESULTS: Plasma pro-BNP levels were significantly increased in cirrhotic patients with ascites or heart failure (p=0.000, p=0.000, respectively) but not in patients with encephalopathy or gastrointestinal bleeding (p=0.396, p=0.059, respectively). Circulating pro-BNP levels were closely correlated with SOFA scores (r=0.331, p=0.002) and correlated with Modified Child-Pugh classification scores (r=0.273, p=0.033). The SOFA score is an easily applied tool with good prognostic abilities, but pro-BNP and Child-Pugh class can also be used to enhance clinical judgment of prognosis. CONCLUSION: Increased pro-BNP levels are likely related to the severity of disease in hepatic cirrhosis. Advanced cirrhosis is associated with advanced cardiac dysfunction and pro-BNP has prognostic value for cirrhosis.
