Probable role of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) in lung hypertension secondary to scleroderma

BACKGROUND Scleroderma, when complicated with pulmonary hypertension (PHT), presents a worse prognosis; recently treatment with new drugs seems to offer good perspectives, especially in early diagnosis and treatment. The standard approach for diagnosing PHT consists in measurement of the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) by means of echodoppler. AIM OF INVESTIGATION Aim of this work is evaluating the significance of the NT-proBNP parameter, matched to echodoppler, in diagnosing scleroderma PHT. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty (60) patients, who came to observation for progressive systemic sclerosis underwent echodoppler in order to measure the PAP (normal values up to 30 mmHg). NT-proBNP was determined on serum sample using ECLIA method by Modular E170 (Roche Diagnostics); manufacturer reference values for age and gender were used. Forty-three (43) patients underwent a further NT-proBNP sampling 5 days later in order to assess parameter stability. RESULTS PHT and non- PHT patients showed statistically different (p < 0,001) medians (126 vs 69 pg/ml). No pathologic values of NT-proBNP were measured in the group with PAP < 30 mmHg, while 27% of cases who had PAP between 30 and 40 showed pathologic concentrations. The positivity ratio increases to 57% in patients showing PAP > 40 mmHg. No relevant correlation (r = 0,2) was found between PAP and NT-proBNP. Mean average between the two sampling groups was 31%. CONCLUSIONS In scleroderma patients, combination of NT-proBNP and PAP seems to improve the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, especially in presence of borderline pulmonary pressure values. We therefore propose the biochemical observation of NT-proBNP when PAP is > 30 mmHg and in monitoring the evolution of the pathology.

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Progression of pulmonary hypertension: role of nitric oxide, adrenomedullin and gender

American Journal of Hypertension ◽

10.1016/s0895-7061(03)00494-1 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. A155

Author(s):

P VIJAY

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Pulmonary Hypertension ◽

And Gender

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The role of vasodilators in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis. Interstitial lung disease and pulmonary hypertension

CHEST Journal ◽

10.1378/chest.88.4.263s ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 88 (4) ◽

pp. 263S-265 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Ohar ◽

C. Polatty ◽

A. Robichaud ◽

A. Fowler ◽

G. Vetrovec ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Hypertension ◽

Systemic Sclerosis ◽

Interstitial Lung Disease ◽

Lung Disease ◽

Progressive Systemic Sclerosis

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New Drug Situation in Russia

Russian Foundation for Basic Research Journal Humanities and social sciences ◽

10.22204/2587-8956-2019-095-02-77-89 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 77-89

Author(s):

Маргарита Позднякова ◽

Margarita Pozdnyakova

Keyword(s):

Drug Abuse ◽

Drug Users ◽

Low Cost ◽

Intermediate Stage ◽

New Drugs ◽

Multiple Drug ◽

Illicit Drug Abuse ◽

And Gender ◽

Gender Groups

The paper explores the rapidly changing drug situation and provides insights into the emergence of various ways of shift to the “new” models of drug abuse, defines the role of “controlled” drug use among different ages and gender groups. It reviews the situation in hand, reveals positive changes: fewer total number of registered addicts, less opioid addiction, fewer injecting drug users. However, the author highlights the onset of massively veiled (illicit) drug abuse, describes the growth of public interest in various psychostimulants. A whole category of new drugs has emerged. Their availability and, in some cases, low cost prompt various drug experiments among both regular and occasional consumers and those prone to first trials. This triggered a change in the methods of drug abuse towards multiple drug abuse. Among certain groups of the population, such models as “status”, “recreational”, and “club” drug abuse have become widespread. The author identifies and shows real practices of controlled drug abuse. Such “controlled” consumption is most often an intermediate stage in the formation of drug addiction with a delayed period, which requires special forms of social control.

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