[Clinical significance of the N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels in pneumoconiosis patients with chronic pulmonary heart disease].

Abstract

Objective: To determine the diagnosis value and therapy significance of peripheral blood N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in pneumoconiosis patients with chronic pulmonary heart disease (CPHD) . Methods: A total of 22 pneumoconiosis complicated with CPHD (A group) , 20 pneumoconiosis complicated with coronary heart disease (B group) and 25 pneumoconiosis without heart disease (C group) were selected. The level of blood NT-proBNP was examined and analyzed in the three groups. We observed the difference blood level of NT-proBNP concentration between before and after of therapy in pneumoconiosis patients with CPHD. The optimal cutoff value of blood NT-proBNP was determined according to the principle of maximum Youden s index associated with clinical analysis. Results: Blood NT-proBNP concentrations were 543.19±78.92, 1017.38±731.06, 109.56±57.46 pg/ml in three groups, respectively. Compared with C group, there was a significant increase in the blood levels of NT-proBNP in both A and B groups (P<0.05, P<0.01) , especially for B group. Compared with NT-proBNP 543.19±78.92 pg/ml before therapy, the153.34±58.40 pg/ml was significantly declined after therapy in B group (P<0.05) . The optional threshold for peripheral blood NT-proBNP level as a diagnostic indicator for pneumoconiosis complicated with CPHD was 450 pg/ml. The specificity and sensitivity of NT-proBNP were 95.46% and 54.17%, respectively. Conclusion: Blood NT-proBNP level may be useful as a tool for monitoring the effect of pneumoconiosis patients with CPHD treatment with higher sensitivity in. Blood NT-proBNP cut-off >450 pg/ml should be applied in clinical practice as a valuable diagnostic prediction for pneumoconiosis patients with CPHD.