Comparison of pro B-natriuretic peptide in hypertensive patients with and without diastolic dysfunction.

AIM: to evaluate whether pro BNP can be used for detection of diastolic dysfunction. METHODS: thirty nine hypertensive patients with normal systolic function, consecutively referred for echocardiography examination between October and December 2004 were recruited in the study. Diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed when echocardiographic mitral flow pattern demonstrated impaired relaxation, pseudonormalization or restrictive like patterns. NT-pro BNP levels were assessed using electro chemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA) method. Unpaired t test was used to analyze the results. RESULTS: twelve out of thirty nine subjects had normal diastolic function. All base line characteristics, except for uric acid, were equally distributed between normal and abnormal diastolic function group. NT-pro BNP levels were nearly significantly higher in the diastolic dysfunction group (P=0.053). CONCLUSION: NT-pro BNP levels trends to be higher in hypertensive subjects with diastolic dysfunction.