Changes of Plasma Levels of Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

Objectives To investigate the changes of plasma brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) levels in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF). Methods Plasma BNP concentrations in patients with CHF (n=56) and in normal controls (n=60) were measured with specific radioimmunoassay. Left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with chronic heart failure was measured with 99mTc gated cardiac blood pool scintigraphy. Results The results showed that Plasma BNP concentrations in patients with CHF were significantly higher than normal controls (223±79 ng/L vs 40±15 ng/L, P < 0.01). Plasma BNP concentrations had a significant negative correlation with left ventricular ejection fractions(r=-0.68, P < 0.01). Conclusions These results indicates that Plasma BNP levels are increased in patients with CHF, and they markedly increased according to the severity of heart failure classified by NYHA classifi-cation. The plasma BNP levels may be a biochemical parameter for evaluating the left ventricular function.