Abstract
Aim: Brain-natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone which is released from heart.The aim of the study was to investigate whether N- terminal- pro- BNP (pro-BNP) could predict localization of thrombus in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.
Method: The patients who were evaluated in emergency department, who had thrombus on helical computed tomography were enrolled. Thrombi which were localized on main/right-left pulmonary artery were classified as central,ones which were present at segmentary/subsegmentary levels as peripheral. Echocardiogram was performed and pro-BNP levels were measured.
Results: Fourty-nine patients were enrolled to the study. The thrombi of 63.3% patients were unilaterally located, of 36.7% bilaterally, 18.4% of patients had thrombi that were central, 81.6% patients had peripheral. The difference between pro-BNP levels of who had central and peripheral thrombus was significant (p=0.039).
Pro-BNP levels of patients who had right ventricule overload (pulmonary HT, septal hypochinesia, dilatation on right heart) were higher (p<0.001, p=0.003, p=0.003). The pro-BNP levels of patients who were followed up in intensive care unit, needed trombolytic treatment were higher (p<0.001, p=0.002).
Conclusion: Higher pro-BNP levels indicates higher probability of more central location of thrombus, resulting adverse clinical course and having right ventricular overload.
- © 2011 ERS