Amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a biomarker of cardiac filling pressures in pre-eclampsia

Objective To evaluate if amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) plasma levels reflect intracardiac filling pressures in pre-eclamptic patients Study design In a cross-sectional study we investigated 22 untreated critically ill pre-eclamptic women between 22 and 34 weeks gestation All patients underwent intra-arterial blood pressure and central hemodynamic measurements and NT-proBNP was determined in stored plasma Baseline characteristics plasma NT-proBNP concentrations and relevant laboratory variables were investigated for correlations with hemodynamic values using Spearman s rank correlation test Results No significant correlations were demonstrated between NT-proBNP concentrations and variables associated with the severity of the pre-eclampsia We found significant positive correlations between NT-proBNP and diastolic pulmonary pressure (r = 0 59 p = 0 005) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) (r = 051 p = 0 015) Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the association between NT-proBNP and PCWP was not affected by creatinine level Conclusion NT-proBNP is a blomarker of left ventricular cardiac filling pressures in untreated pre-eclamptic patients (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd All rights reserved