N-terminal pro-BNP in sclerodermic patients on bosentan therapy for PAH.
Rheumatol Int. 2008 May; 28(7):657-60.RI

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by vascular dysfunction that may lead to pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). The N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proNBP), a marker of cardiac failure, is a diagnostic marker of early PAH in patients with SSc without heart failure. Our aim was to determine whether NT-proBNP levels may be a useful tool to evaluate the response to bosentan therapy in patients with PAH secondary to SSc. Ten patients with symptomatic, severe PAH secondary to SSc, received bosentan, 62.5 mg twice a day for 4 weeks followed by 125 mg twice a day for 7 months. Ten patients with SSc without PAH served as controls for basal level of NT-proBNP. Blood samples were obtained before the beginning of the therapy and after 3 and 7 months of treatment. SSc patients with PAH had significantly higher serum levels of NT-proBNP than those without PAH, at baseline. After 3 and 7 months of therapy, NT-proBNP concentration showed a progressive decrease, nearly approaching statistical difference at 7 months when compared to baseline levels (P=0.953 and P=0.600). Our results show that serum NT-proBNP levels may be a useful marker for the response to bosentan therapy in patients with PAH secondary to SSc.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Simeoni S
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, P.le LA Scuro 37134, Verona, Italy.
Lippi G
No affiliation info available
Puccetti A
No affiliation info available
Montagnana M
No affiliation info available
Tinazzi E
No affiliation info available
Prati D
No affiliation info available
Corrocher R
No affiliation info available
Lunardi C
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAgedBosentanFemaleHumansHypertension, PulmonaryMaleMiddle AgedNatriuretic Peptide, BrainPeptide FragmentsScleroderma, SystemicSulfonamides

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

18092166