血清N末端B型钠尿肽前体在高血压左心室不同构型患者中的变化与检测意义

目的探究高血压患者不同左心室构型与血清N末端B型钠尿肽前体(NT-proBNP)的关系。为临床高血压患者血清NT-proBNP的检测意义提供数据支持。方法收集佛山中医院2010年2月至2012年2月90例临床诊断为高血压的患者资料和24例无高血压健康者资料。高血压组根据超声心动图结果分为4组:(1)正常构型组(22例);(2)向心性重构型组(24例);(3)向心性肥厚型组(22例);(4)离心性肥厚型组(22例)。然后测定患者血清中NT-proBNP的浓度。结果血清B型N末端脑钠肽前体在不同组间有一定差异,健康对照组为(88.22±42.24)pg/mL,正常构型组(102.84±30.02)pg/mL;向心性重构型组(127.10±43.90)pg/mL;向心性肥厚型组(374.03±118.25)pg/mL;离心性肥厚型组(751.72±159.89)pg/mL。健康对照组与正常构型组、向心性重构组之间无统计学意义(P>0.05)。在高血压组中向心性与离心性肥厚组的浓度水平均升高明显,显著高于健康对照组、高血压正常构型组及向心性重构型组(P<0.05)。结论血清NT-proBNP水平升高与高血压病左心室重构有关,临床上检测患者的血清NT-proBNP水平有助于尽早诊断高血压病左室肥厚及其分型,并为左室肥厚提供客观的监测指标。     

高血压不同左心室构型患者血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ含量及其临床意义

目的初步探讨血清Ⅰ和Ⅲ型前胶原(PCⅠ、PCⅢ)对高血压患者左室重构不同构型的影响。方法采用放射免疫法测定140例高血压患者和30例健康体检者的PCⅠ、PCⅢ浓度;超声心动图检查心脏各结构指标,据此将高血压组分为正常构型组(25例)、向心性重构型组(43例)、向心性肥厚型组(40例)和离心性肥厚型组(32例)4个亚组。结果①高血压组的血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ水平均显著高于正常对照组;高血压不同左心室构型组间,血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ水平均有统计学差异(P<0.05),但两者在不同构型间升高的情况有所不同,血清PCⅢ水平在向心性与离心性肥厚组显著升高,但两肥厚组间无显著差异,而血清PCⅠ水平在离心性肥厚组显著高于其他各组(P<0.05);高血压正常构型与向心性重构型组的PCⅠ水平虽高于正常对照组,但差异不显著。②血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ均与左室质量指数、左心室室壁相对厚度、室间隔厚度和左室后壁厚度呈正相关;血清PCⅠ与PCⅢ亦呈正相关。结论血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ水平升高均与高血压病左心室重构有关,临床上检测血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ水平有助于尽早发现高血压病左心室重构,并为逆转左心室重构提供客观的监测指标。     

高血压不同左心室构型患者血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ含量及其临床意义

目的 初步探讨血清Ⅰ和Ⅲ型前胶原（PCⅠ、PCⅢ）对高血压患者左室重构不同构型的影响。方法 采用放射免疫法测定140例高血压患者和30例健康体检者的PCⅠ、PCⅢ浓度；超声心动图检查心脏各结构指标，据此将高血压组分为正常构型组（25例）、向心性重构型组（43例）、向心性肥厚型组（40例）和离心性肥厚型组（32例）4个亚组。结果 ①高血压组的血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ水平均显著高于正常对照组；高血压不同左心室构型组间，血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ水平均有统计学差异（P〈0．05），但两者在不同构型间升高的情况有所不同。血清PCⅢ水平在向心性与离心性肥厚组是著升高。但两肥厚组间无显著差异，而血清PCⅠ水平在离心性肥厚组显著高于其他各组（P〈0．05）；高血压正常构型与向心性重构型组的PCⅠ水平虽高于正常对照组，但差异不显著。②血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ均与左室质量指数、左心室室壁相对厚度、富间隔厚度和左室后壁厚度呈正相关；血清PCⅠ与PCⅢ亦呈正相关。结论血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ水平升高均与高血压病左心室重构有关，临床上检测血清PCⅠ和PCⅢ水平有助于尽早发现高血压病左心室重构，并为逆转左心室重构提供客观的监测指标。     

原发性高血压左心室不同构型QT离散度的特点探讨

目的探讨原发性高血压左心室不同构型QT离散度（QTd）的特点。方法对120例原发性高血压患者均进行心脏彩色超声心动图和常规12导联心电图（纸速50 mm/s）检查,算出左心室重量指数（LVMI）和相对壁厚度（RWT）,按2个指标来划分左心室构型,同时计算出每位患者的QTd值,比较不同构型组QTd的差异（用F和q检验）。结果得出Ⅰ型正常左室构型30例,Ⅱ型向心性重构40例,Ⅲ型向心性肥厚35例,Ⅳ型离心型肥厚15例;离心性肥厚组的QTd值长于其它各组,向心性肥厚组的QTd值长于向心性重构和正常构型组,而向心性重构组的QTd数值虽稍大于正常构型但无统计学上的差异。结论原发性高血压左心室舒张功能异常发生多先于收缩功能,左心室构型变化越大,QTd也越大。     

高血压病患者左心室构型的彩色多普勒超声分析

目的分析高血压病患者左心室的不同构型及其发生机制,方法 高血压病组172例,对照组123例,以超声心动图测定左心室重量指数（LVMI）和室壁相对厚度（RWT）;以彩色多普勒检测有无二尖或主动脉瓣反应及其程度,以肱动脉血压和左心排血量计算体循环血管阻力（SVR）,根据LVMI与RWT分析高血压病患者的左心室不同构型,并分析其彩色多普勒超声表现与SVR特征。结果 高血压病组左室正常型占49．42％,向心性重构型9．30％,向心性肥厚型11．63％,离心性肥厚型29．65％,离心性肥厚组中度二尖瓣反流者较多,SVR最高者为向心性重构组,其次为向心性肥厚组,再次为左室正常组,三者与对照组比较差异的均有显著意义（P＜0．01）,结论 在高血压病中层得中,离心性肥厚较向心性肥厚更为常见,向心性重构也占一定的比例,向心性肥厚及向心性重构主要与压力负荷过重有关,离心性肥厚既有压力负荷过重,又有容量负荷过重,向心性重构还可能与容量低负荷有关。     

高血压患者左心室重构及扭转动力学研究

目的运用二维斑点追踪技术(2DSTE)评价左心室不同构型的原发性高血压(EH)患者左心室扭转机制。方法选取高血压患者170例和健康志愿者50例,应用斑点追踪技术测量左心室短轴基底段旋转角度峰值(PBR)、心尖段旋转角度峰值(PAR)、左心室整体扭转角度(Ptw)及左心室解旋速率(PUV)。结果与对照组相比,高血压向心性重构(CCR)组与向心性肥厚(CCH)组Ptw均增加(P0.01),离心性肥厚(ECH)组Ptw减小(P0.01);与对照组相比,向心性重构(CCR)组与向心性肥厚(CCH)组PUV增加(P0.01);离心性肥厚(ECH)组PUV较小(P0.05)。结论高血压患者左心室向心性重构及向心性肥厚时左心室扭转运动代偿性增加,离心性肥厚时左心室扭转运动减弱。     

高血压病患者不同左心室几何构型血浆心肌营养素-1水平的变化

目的探讨高血压病患者不同左心室几何构型与血浆心肌营养素-1(CT-1)水平的关系。方法对80例血压达标的高血压病患者进行超声心动图检查,依据左心室质量指数(LVMI)、左心室相对室壁厚度将患者分为左心室正常构型组(n=20)、向心性重构组(n=22)、向心性肥厚组(n=20)和离心性肥厚组(n=18)。健康体检者为对照。ELISA法测定血浆CT-1水平。结果所有高血压病患者血浆CT-1水平显著高于对照组(P<0.01)。血浆CT-1水平:左心室向心性重构组显著高于正常构型组(P=0.004)、向心性肥厚组显著高于向心性重构组(P=0.049)、离心性肥厚组显著高于向心性肥厚组(P=0.001)。左心室向心性肥厚组(r=0.626,P=0.009)、离心性肥厚组(r=0.573,P=0.017)患者的血浆CT-1水平与LVMI显著正相关。结论对于血压控制达标的高血压病患者,血浆CT-1水平仍可以很好地反映左心室质量的严重程度。     

原发性高血压患者左心室舒张早期血流传播速度的变化及其临床意义

目的探讨原发性高血压患者左心室舒张早期血流传播速度(VP)变化与左心室几何构型改变之间的关系.方法对原发性高血压患者105例和健康志愿者37例,应用M型超声心动图测量左心室舒张末期内径(LVIDd)、室间隔舒张末期厚度(IVSd)、左心室后壁舒张末期厚度(LVPWd)和左心室射血分数(LVEF),并计算左心室相对室壁厚度(RWT)及左心室心肌质量指数(LVMI),采用彩色M型多普勒在心尖四腔心切面测量VP,并对超声参数行组间分析比较.结果根据LVMI和RWT的不同,将高血压患者分为左心室正常构型(35例)、向心性重构型(22例)、向心性肥厚型(28例)和离心性肥厚型(20例),高血压各组VP均较对照组减小(P＜0.05或0.01),且在正常构型、向心性重构、向心性肥厚和离心性肥厚组呈逐渐减小趋势(P＜0.05或0.01).Spearman等级相关分析显示VP与左心室几何构型变化之间存在良好相关性(r=-0.62,P＜0.01).多元线性回归分析显示,LVMI、收缩压和年龄是高血压患者VP的重要影响因素(分别r=-0.40,P=0.02;r=-0.25,P=0.04;r=-0.20,P=0.01).结论VP在原发性高血压患者均小于正常对照组,且在正常构型、向心性重构、向心性肥厚和离心性肥厚组呈依次递减趋势,准确反映了高血压左心室重构过程中舒张功能受损程度的变化.     

实时三平面应变率成像评价原发性高血压患者左心室长轴收缩功能

目的 应用实时三平面应变率成像检测原发性高血压患者左心室重构进展过程中长轴收缩功能的变化.方法 选择原发性高血压患者101例和健康志愿者31例.应用实时三平面显像技术同时显示各受检者心尖四腔心、心尖两腔心和心尖左心室长轴切面,启动应变率成像模式测定左心室各壁基底段和中间段收缩期峰值应变率(SRs).结果 根据Ganau分类法,将原发性高血压患者分为左心室正常构型(32例)、向心性重构型(22例)、向心性肥厚型(28例)和离心性肥厚型(19例)共4组.原发性高血压患者各组左心室壁各节段SRs均小于对照组相应节段 (P＜0.05,0.01),且正常构型、向心性重构型、向心性肥厚型及离心性肥厚型各组SRs逐渐减小(P＜0.05,0.01).结论 实时三平面应变率成像能够准确评价原发性高血压患者左心室重构进展过程中长轴收缩功能的变化.     

肿瘤坏死因子对轻中度原发性高血压左室构型的影响

目的：探讨肿瘤坏死因子在轻中度原发性高血压心肌肥厚过程中的病理生理作用。方法：轻中度原发性高血压患者60例，对照组60例，以超声心动图测定左心室质量指数和室壁相对厚度，根据左心室质量指数与室壁相对厚度把高血压组分成四种构型。用发光免疫法测定血清肿瘤坏死因子含量。结果：（1）高血压组肿瘤坏死因子含量显著高于正常对照组，并且与血压升高程度呈正相关；（2）正常构型组肿瘤坏死因子含量显著高于正常对照组；（3）向心性重构组及向心性肥厚组显著高于正常构型组，但两组之间的差别不显著；（4）离心性肥厚组肿瘤坏死因子显著高于其他构型组；（5）肿瘤坏死因子与左心室质量指数、左室舒张期末容积及收缩期末容积正相关，与左心室射血分数负相关。结论：肿瘤坏死因子促进了左室构型向离心性肥厚发展。     

原发性高血压及左室肥厚对血浆NT—proBNP浓度的影响

目的：观察原发性高血压患者血浆NT-proBNP浓度变化及其与左室肥厚的关系。方法：81例研究对象分两组：高血压病患者47例，健康对照者34例；用酶联免疫法测定所有人选者血浆NT—proBNP浓度；高血压病患者行超声心动图检查，评价左室结构和功能。结果：高血压病患者的血浆NT—proBNP浓度明显高于对照组（P〈0．05），并发左室肥厚的高血压病患者血浆NT—proBNP浓度明显高于非左室肥厚患者（P〈0．05）。结论：并发左室肥厚的原发性高血压患者血浆NT—proBNP浓度明显升高，临床测定血浆NT—proBNP浓度可能有助于鉴别并发左室肥厚的高血压病患者。     

N-端脑钠肽前体测定在高血压疾病中的应用研究

目的 探讨血清N端脑钠肽前体(NT-proBNP)在高血压疾病的应用研究。方法 选择152例高血压患者纳入研究,根据高血压病情发展分为高血压1级(30例),高血压2级(36例)和高血压3级(86例)。86例高血压3级患者根据有无并发糖尿病又分为单纯高血压组(40例)和高血压并发糖尿病组(46例),分别比较不同分级组的血清NT-proBNP水平变化。结果 高血压1级患者、2级患者和3级患者血清中NT-proBNP水平分别为68±44,122±31和834±309 pg/ml。随着病情发展其血清水平逐渐升高(t=2.455,3.561,P<0.01),高血压3级患者中高血压并发糖尿病组和单纯高血压组血清中NT-proBNP分别为1 178±664 pg/ml和599±411 pg/ml(t=3.785,P<0.01)。结论 NT-proBNP水平能客观反映高血压患者的病情程度,对临床治疗和病情监测有一定的指导意义。     

血浆氨基末端B型钠尿肽原在心功能损伤早期的变化

目的探讨血浆氨基末端B型钠尿肽原(NT-proBNP)在高血压合并冠心病、临床无肾功能异常症状糖尿病患者心功能损伤早期的变化,及其在高血压合并冠心病治疗前、后的变化情况。方法将206例高血压合并冠心病患者、65例糖尿病患者按纽约心脏协会心功能分级标准(NYHA)分为Ⅰ～Ⅱ级组、Ⅲ～Ⅳ级组,同时选取37例排除高血压、冠心病和糖尿病病史的伤骨科患者作为对照组。检测所有病例NT-proBNP水平。选取37例高血压合并冠心病患者临床治疗前、后NT-proBNP浓度进行对照,观察NT-proBNP与治疗和预后的关系。结果高血压合并冠心病组、糖尿病组NT-proBNP水平高于对照组(P<0.01),高血压合并冠心病NYHAⅠ～Ⅱ级组NT-proBNP水平高于糖尿病NYHAⅠ～Ⅱ级组(P<0.05),但高血压合并冠心病NYHAⅢ～Ⅳ级组与糖尿病NYHAⅢ～Ⅳ级组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);高血压合并冠心病组治疗后的NT-proBNP水平明显低于治疗前(P<0.01)。结论 NT-proBNP可以用于高血压合并冠心病心功能早期损伤的实验室诊断,并且与治疗和预后有关联。NT-proBNP在糖尿病发展早期可灵敏反映心功能的改变。     

老年原发性高血压患者左心房内径与血清NT-proBNP的关系

目的探讨老年无心室肥厚的原发性高血压患者左心房内径与血清氨基末端B型钠尿肽原（NT-proBNP）水平的关系。方法用电化学发光免疫测定法检测90例老年原发性高血压男性患者血清NT-proBNP水平,排除心、肾功能不全及房颤、心室肥厚。依据左心房内径分为左心房内径增大组（45例,左心房内径≥40 mm）及左心房内径正常组（45例,左心房内径〈40 mm）。心脏重构采用心脏超声心动图检查。结果左心房内径增大组血清NT-proBNP水平高于左心房内径正常组（P〈0.01）;左心房内径与NT-proBNP水平呈正相关（r=0.45,P〈0.01）。结论在老年不伴心室肥厚的原发性高血压患者中,血清NT-proBNP水平随着左心房内径的增大而升高。提示NT-proBNP可作为此类高血压患者左心房重构的生化评估指标。     

Serum cardiac markers in patients with acute myocardial infarction: oxidative stress, C-reactive protein and N-terminal probrain natriuretic Peptide

The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of an oxidative stress, C-reactive protein (CRP) and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) biomarkers in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The study population contained 100 patients with AMI and 40 healthy subjects. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Total antioxidant status (TAC) was assayed with colorimetric method. CRP and NT-proBNP was quantitated by immunoassay. MDA, CRP and NT-proBNP levels were found significantly high in patients with AMI as compared to healthy controls (p<0.01). Patients were divided into six groups based on the presence of disease history before AMI. In patients with non-disease before AMI. MDA, CRP and NT-proBNP levels were lowest among the patient groups. MDA levels in patients with hyperlipidemia/ diabetes/renal disease were higher than the other groups. TAC levels in patients with hypertension were lower than as compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). CRP levels in hypertension + hyperlipidemia patients and NT-proBNP levels in cardiovascular + hypertension patients were found high as compared to other patient groups. It is concluded that serum levels of MDA, CRP and NT-proBNP were significantly increased in patients with AMI and these markers were strongly predictive in AMI.     

原发性高血压并发左心功能障碍与血浆NT-proBNP的相关性研究

目的研究血浆氨基末端脑钠素前体(NT-proBNP)在原发性高血压患者左心扩大和左心功能障碍中的临床价值,为高血压患者左心室扩大和心功能障碍诊断提供诊断依据。方法将120例原发性高血压患者和29例健康者(对照组)纳入本研究。对上述人群进行以下的检测:测定血浆NT-proBNP浓度,用心脏彩色多普勒检查测定左室射血分数(LVEF)、左房内径(LA)、左室舒张末内径(LVEDD)、左室收缩末内径(LVSDD),分析血浆NT-proBNP与原发性高血压患者左心扩大和左心功能障碍的相关性,并用ROC曲线分析NT-proBNP的诊断准确性。结果高血压患者与对照组在年龄、性别、血清肌酐(Scr)等方面比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),但前者的血浆NT-proBNP水平明显高于后者,而左心室扩大的患者血浆NT-proBNP水平明显高于左心室大小正常的患者(P0.05);左心功能障碍患者血浆NT-proBNP水平明显高于左心功能正常患者(P0.05)。血浆NT-proBNP水平与患者LA、LVEDD、LVSDD呈正相关(r=0.518、0.580、0.480,P0.01),与LVEF呈负相关(r=-0.61,P0.01)。ROC曲线显示,NT-proBNP的浓度设定在380pg/mL,诊断左心室扩大的灵敏度为80.6%,特异度为72.4%。NTproBNP的浓度设定在930pg/mL,诊断左心室功能障碍的灵敏度为80.8%,特异度为77.4%。结论 NT-proBNP浓度与反映左心室功能的多个超声心动学指标紧密相关,其浓度能够较可靠地反映左心室的收缩功能,可作为筛查原发性高血压患者左心室扩大和左心功能障碍的标志物。     

NT-proBNP和HCY对原发性高血压患者合并左心室肥厚的预测价值

目的探讨原发性高血压(EH)合并左心室肥厚(LVH)患者血N-末端氨基末端脑钠肽前体(NT-proBNP)和同型半胱氨酸(HCY)的水平及临床意义。方法 150例原发性高血压患者根据心脏超声结果分为高血压LVH(EH-LVH)组和单纯EH组。另取健康体检者100例作为对照组,比较三组人员血NT-proBNP和HCY水平,并进行相关性分析。结果 EH-LVH组血NT-proBNP和HCY水平均明显高于EH组和对照组,EH组显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。血NTproBNP和HCY水平与左室重量质量指数(LVMI)呈显著正相关,与二尖瓣口流速E/A呈负相关(P0.05)。结论 NT-proBNP和HCY水平可作为EH发生、发展的监测指标,并对其合并LVH具有一定的预测价值。     

Capability of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal proBNP as indicators of cardiac structural disease in asymptomatic patients with systemic arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic utility of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) measurements for the detection of cardiac structural disease in asymptomatic patients with systemic arterial hypertension and to test the hypothesis that the 2 analytes are equally useful in this clinical setting. METHODS: We studied a consecutive series of 149 asymptomatic patients referred for echocardiographic evaluation of the cardiac effects of systemic arterial hypertension. Diagnosis of cardiac structural disease was based on the presence of systolic or diastolic dysfunction, left atrial dilatation, left ventricular dilatation or hypertrophy, pulmonary hypertension, and wall motion or valvular abnormalities. Blood concentrations of BNP and NT-proBNP were measured by 2 commercially available assays (Abbott AxSYM and Roche Elecsys, respectively). Diagnostic accuracies of BNP and NT-proBNP were assessed by ROC curve analysis. Areas under the curves were compared by analysis of equivalency. RESULTS: In distinguishing between hypertensive patients with cardiac structural disease (n = 118) and hypertensive patients without (n = 31), areas under the curves were 0.740 (95% confidence interval, 0.662-0.808) for BNP and 0.762 (0.685-0.828) for NT-proBNP and were significantly equivalent (P = 0.015). Cutoff values with a 90% sensitivity for cardiac structural disease were 17 ng/L for BNP and 39 ng/L for NT-proBNP, with 29% and 32% specificity, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BNP and NT-proBNP have similar capabilities for detecting cardiac structural disease in asymptomatic patients with systemic arterial hypertension. However, in the setting evaluated, a screening strategy relying on measurement of BNP or NT-proBNP may be of limited value because of the low specificity at the selected cutoff values.     

Circulating NT-proBNP but not soluble corin levels were associated with preeclampsia in pregnancy-associated hypertension

BackgroundCorin is a serine protease known to convert B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) prohormone into BNP and its amino-terminal fragment (NT-proBNP). In mice lacking corin, high blood pressure and proteinuria were found at late gestational stages, with associated delayed trophoblast invasion and impaired spiral artery remodeling in the uterus. We hypothesize that both NT-proBNP and soluble corin elevation predict the presence of preeclampsia in pregnant patients with hypertension.MethodsWe prospectively enrolled 149 pregnant women with a history of chronic hypertension or gestational hypertension presenting at a tertiary-care hospital. We compared plasma NT-proBNP and soluble corin concentrations based on their preeclamptic status.ResultsIn our study cohort, 62 patients with preeclampsia had lower gestational age than 87 patients without preeclampsia (33.3 ± 3 versus 36.6 ± 3 weeks; P < .001), otherwise the baseline characteristics were similar. We observed higher NT-proBNP concentrations in patients with preeclampsia compared to those without preeclampsia (304.3 [96.34, 570.4] vs. 60.8 [35.61, 136.8] ng/L, P < .001), with no differences between chronic and gestational hypertension. However, the concentration of corin was not statistically different between the two groups (1756 [1214, 2133] vs. 1571 [1171, 1961] ng/L, P = .1087). ROC curve analysis demonstrated stronger predictive value of NT-proBNP compared to soluble corin in predicting the presence of preeclampsia in our study population (AUC 0.7406 vs. 0.5789, P < .0001).ConclusionWhile corin may contribute to mechanistic underpinnings of the development of preeclampsia in animal models, soluble corin likely has no diagnostic role in human pregnancies for preeclampsia beyond natriuretic peptide levels.     

NT-proBNP levels in systemic sclerosis: Association with clinical and laboratory abnormalities

ObjectiveTo identify factors related to NT-proBNP levels in systemic sclerosis (SSc).Design and methodsNT-proBNP was measured in 119 patients with SSc and 20 controls. Patients with transtricuspid gradient (TG) ≥ 36 mmHg or ≥ 31 mmHg plus dyspnea were considered to have suspected systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SScPAH).ResultsIncreasing age, NYHA functional class, skin score, history of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), anticentromere antibodies, diastolic dysfunction, reduced pulmonary diffusing capacity, and TG were positively associated with NT-proBNP. In multivariable linear regression, TG, age, and SAH were independently associated to NT-proBNP levels. An ROC curve analysis (with an area under the curve of 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83–0.95) suggested a cutoff of 157.8 pg/mL to identify patients with suspected SScPAH, presenting a sensitivity of 100% (78.1–100) and specificity of 72.3% (62.3–80.5).ConclusionsNT-proBNP levels are related to clinical and laboratory abnormalities in SSc. The results indicate that NT-proBNP may be a useful tool in the evaluation of SScPAH.