Influence of hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and left ventricular systolic dysfunction on plasma N terminal proBNP

OBJECTIVES To examine the relation between plasma concentration of the N terminal of the precursor of brain natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) in patients with a history of hypertension. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Teaching hospital based study. PATIENTS NT proBNP concentrations were determined in five groups of individuals. Group 1: 15 echocardiographic normal controls; group 2: 22 patients with hypertension, normal left ventricular systolic function, and no LVH; group 3: 24 patients with hypertension, normal left ventricular systolic function, and LVH; group 4: 13 patients with history of hypertension, no history of ischaemic heart disease, and left ventricular wall motion index (WMI) between 1.9–1.3; and group 5:17 patients with a history of hypertension, no history of ischaemic heart disease, and WMI