Validity of N-terminal propeptide of the brain natriuretic peptide in predicting left ventricular diastolic dysfunction diagnosed by tissue Doppler imaging in patients with chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMSLeft ventricular diastolic dysfunction has been reported in patients with liver cirrhosis. Although conventional Doppler echocardiography has been used to assess diastolic filling dynamics, this technique is limited in diagnosing left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. The aim of the study was to validate the N-terminal propeptide of the brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in predicting left ventricular diastolic dysfunction diagnosed by tissue Doppler imaging in patients with chronic liver disease. METHODSIn 64 patients, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was classified using tissue Doppler imaging and serum levels of NT-proBNP were measured. RESULTSLeft ventricular diastolic dysfunction was found in 25 of 31 (80.6%) patients with severe liver fibrosis/cirrhosis versus 2 of 8 (25.0%) patients with moderate and 6 of 25 (24.0%) patients with mild liver fibrosis (P