Increased Brain Natriuretic Peptide as a Marker for Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Acute Pulmonary Embolism

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
pp. 1193-1196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Tulevski ◽  
Alexander Hirsch ◽  
Bernd-Jan Sanson ◽  
Hans Romkes ◽  
Ernst van der Wall ◽  
...  

SummaryRight ventricular (RV) function is of major prognostic significance in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of neurohormone plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in assessing RV function in patients with acute PE.BNP levels were measured in 16 consecutive patients with acute PE as diagnosed by high probability lung scintigraphy or pulmonary angiography. Twelve healthy age-matched volunteers served as controls. All 16 patients underwent standard echocardiography and blood tests during the first hour of presentation. In the patient group, survival was studied for a period of 30 days. Plasma BNP levels in patients with acute PE were higher than in controls (7.2 [95% CI 0.4 to 144.6] versus 1.4[95% CI 0.4 to 4.6] pmol/L, p = 0.0008). Plasma BNP was significantly higher in 5 patients with RV dysfunction compared to 11 patients with normal RV function (40.2 [95% CI 7.5 to 214.9] versus 3.3 [95% CI 0.4 to 24.9] pmol/L, p = 0.0003). RV systolic pressure was not significantly correlated with BNP (r = 0.42, p = ns).In conclusion, plasma BNP neurohormone levels might be of clinical importance as a supplementary tool for assessment of RV function in patients with acute PE.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Decai Zeng ◽  
Ji Wu ◽  
Hui Chen ◽  
Ying Tan ◽  
Xueyu Che ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction played a decisive role in clinical management and associated with poor prognosis in acute pulmonary embolism (PE). It still remains challenging to estimate RV function accurately for the reason of complex structure and geometry. The present study aimed to determine the value of right ventricular outflow tract systolic excursion (RVOT-SE) in evaluating RV function in an animal model with acute PE. Methods Thirty-three healthy New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to massive thrombus group, sub-massive thrombus group and control group, 11 rabbits per group. The acute PE model was established by intravenous infusion of autologous blood clots. After 1h of thrombus injection, transthoracic echocardiography was performed to assess RV function in all rabbits. Results The acute PE model was successfully made in 18 rabbits (massive thrombus group, n = 8; sub-massive thrombus group n = 10). Right/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (RV/LV) ratio and RV myocardial performance (Tei) index were significantly increased, while RV fractional area change (RVFAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and RVOT_SE were reduced in massive thrombus group. The value of RVOT-SE and RVFAC in sub-massive thrombus group decreased significantly compared with control group (P < 0.05). But there was no significant difference in RV/LV, TAPSE and Tei index (P > 0.05). ROC analysis showed that RVOT-SE had high sensitivity (94.4%) and specificity (72.7%) in identifying RV dysfunction in acute PE. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for combined TAPSE and RVOT-SE was greater than that of TAPSE or RVOT-SE alone (AUC= 0.962, P < 0.01). Conclusion RV function in acute PE is significantly decreased, which is closely related to the size of embolus. RVOT_SE is a simple and highly distinctive parameter in identifying RV dysfunction and tends to be superior to conventional parameters in acute PE. The combination of RVOT-SE and TAPSE can further improve the diagnostic accuracy of acute PE.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
MD Lyhne ◽  
SJ Dragsbaek ◽  
JV Hansen ◽  
JG Schultz ◽  
A Andersen ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Laerdal Foundation for Acute Medicine, Novo Nordisk Foundation Background/Introduction: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a frequent condition in acute cardiac care and is potentially fatal. Cause of death is right ventricular (RV) failure due to increased RV afterload from both pulmonary vascular obstruction and vasoconstriction. Inodilators are interesting drugs of choice as they may improve RV function and lower its afterload. Purpose We aimed to investigate the cardiovascular effects of three clinically relevant inodilators: levosimendan, milrinone and dobutamine in acute PE. Methods We conducted a randomized, blinded, animal study using 18 female pigs. Animals received large autologous PE until doubling of baseline mean pulmonary arterial pressure and were randomized to four logarithmically increasing doses of each inodilator. Effects were evaluated with bi-ventricular pressure-volume loop recordings, right heart catheterization and blood gas analyses. Results Induction of PE increased RV afterload and pulmonary pressure (p &lt; 0.05) causing RV dysfunction. Levosimendan and milrinone showed beneficial hemodynamic profiles by lowering RV pressures and volume (p &lt; 0.001) and improved RV function and cardiac output (p &lt; 0.05) without increasing RV mechanical work. Dobutamine increased RV pressure and function (p &lt; 0.01) but at a cost of increased mechanical work at the highest doses, showing an adverse hemodynamic profile. See Figure. Conclusion(s): In a porcine model of acute PE, levosimendan and milrinone reduced RV afterload and improved RV function, whereas dobutamine at higher doses increased RV afterload and RV mechanical work. The study motivates clinical testing of inodilators in patients with acute PE and RV dysfunction. Abstract Figure. Inodilators in acute pulmonary embolism


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yizhuo Gao ◽  
Chao Ji ◽  
Hongyu Zhao ◽  
Jun Han ◽  
Haitao Shen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background It is important to identify deterioration in normotensive patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). This study aimed to develop a tool for predicting deterioration among normotensive patients with acute PE on admission. Methods Clinical, laboratory, and computed tomography parameters were retrospectively collected for normotensive patients with acute PE who were treated at a Chinese center from January 2011 to May 2020 on admission into the hospital. The endpoint of the deterioration was any adverse outcome within 30 days. Eligible patients were randomized 2:1 to derivation and validation cohorts, and a nomogram was developed and validated by the aforementioned cohorts, respectively. The areas under the curves (AUCs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. A risk-scoring tool for predicting deterioration was applied as a web-based calculator. Results The 845 eligible patients (420 men, 425 women) had an average age of 60.05 ± 15.43 years. Adverse outcomes were identified for 81 patients (9.6%). The nomogram for adverse outcomes included heart rate, systolic pressure, N-terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide, and ventricle/atrial diameter ratios at 4-chamber view, which provided AUC values of 0.925 in the derivation cohort (95% CI 0.900–0.946, p < 0.001) and 0.900 in the validation cohort (95% CI 0.883–0.948, p < 0.001). A risk-scoring tool was published as a web-based calculator (https://gaoyzcmu.shinyapps.io/APE9AD/). Conclusions We developed a web-based scoring tool that may help predict deterioration in normotensive patients with acute PE.


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