NT-proBNP levels in β-thalassemia major patients without cardiac hemosiderosis

Introduction: Heart failure due to hemosiderosis is frequent in beta-thalassemia major (beta-TM) patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used in the early detection of heart failure. Amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a very sensitive marker in the diagnosis of heart failure. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of NT-proBNP levels in thalassemia patients, who are thought to have no cardiac iron deposition according to T2* scoring system (CMRT2* > 20 msn), in early identification of cardiac failure. Methods: NT-proBNP levels of 31 patients, who have T2* > 20 ms, and of 25 healthy population were measured by chemoluminescence method. Results: NT-proBNP levels were not different in thalassemic patients [median: 33 (IQR: 28-94) pg/mL] compared to control group [median: 41 (IQR: 28-59) pg/mL]. We found that NT-proBNP level was above cut-off value in six patients. Conclusion: NT-proBNP is a cheaper, reachable, and noninvasive method compared to MRI technique, it can be easily used in monthly controls. Detection of high NT-proBNP levels above cut-off values in patients whose T2* values are normal indicates that measurement of NTpro-BNP is a more sensitive marker in early detection of cardiac failure.