natriuretic-peptide--brain and Carcinoma--Hepatocellular

NT-proBNP has emerged as a powerful diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in heart disease. Studies showed that NT-proBNP is a sensitive biomarker for identifying patients with heart failure caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) related myocarditis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the serum concentration of NT-proBNP and hepatitis virus infection/liver disease.. 223 serum samples from blood donors (aged 19~50 years old) were collected as a control group, and 644 samples were obtained from patients infected by hepatitis viruses including 493 HBV: 364 chronic hepatitis (CH), 86 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 43 liver cirrhosis (LC) and 151 HCV (85 CH, 14 HCC, 52 LC). All samples were assayed with an Elecsys immunoassay analyzer for NT-proBNP concentration.. The mean concentration of NT-proBNP in the control group was 21.77 pg/ml and showed no significant variation with either age or gender. Both the mean value and the rate of abnormality of NT-proBNP were significantly higher for the HBV- and HCV-infected groups in comparison with the control group. The mean NT-proBNP value (380.24 pg/ml) and abnormality rate (38.41%) in the HCV group were higher than that of the HBV group. For samples from patients with HBV/HCV-related hepatic disease/pathology, the mean NT-proBNP value (517.19 pg/ml/597.18 pg/ml) were the highest in the liver cirrhosis group.. Hepatic pathologic lesions, particularly cirrhosis, may contribute to the elevation of NT-proBNP in subjects with HBV/HCV infection.

Topics: Adult; Biomarkers; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Hepatitis; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Diseases; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptide Fragments; Young Adult

The aim of our study was to determine concentrations of amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with cirrhosis, thereby describing the hemodynamic and cardiac profiles to verify the existence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.. Clinical data, NT-proBNP levels, echocardiography, and right heart hemodynamic measurements were performed on all patients undergoing liver transplantation for cirrhosis.. Our patients showed a hyperdynamic circulation with elevated left-sided pressures despite high cardiac outputs. This observation suggested abnormalities in left ventricular diastolic compliance. We verified these results, because our cohort showed a significant left ventricular mass index and, consequently, diastolic dysfunction. Mean NT-proBNP levels were high. The great expansion of central volume may explain these results and the later development of left ventricular hypertrophy.. We concluded that elevated concentrations of NT-proBNP indicated the presence of hyperdynamic syndrome and cardiac dysfunction.

Topics: Biomarkers; Blood Pressure; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Cardiac Catheterization; Cardiac Output; Cardiomyopathies; Diastole; Heart; Heart Diseases; Heart Rate; Hemodynamics; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C; Humans; Hypertension; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic; Liver Neoplasms; Liver Transplantation; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Systole; Vascular Resistance

Various effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on the liver have been observed. However, there is limited information about the types of receptors for natriuretic peptides expressed by the human liver.. To investigate gene expression of the three NP receptor types (NPR) as well as of the NP in human liver.. Presence of mRNA coding for all three NPR and for ANP, brain and C-type natriuretic peptide (BNP, CNP) was investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Human liver tissues and hepatocellular carcinoma tissues were examined.. Specific PCR products for all three NPR, namely NPR-A, B, and C, could be detected. Moreover, ANP and CNP, but not BNP mRNA was detectable. The concentration of ANP transcripts was up to fivefold higher in hepatocellular carcinoma compared with non-tumorous liver tissue of the same subjects. No difference in the expression of NP receptors relative to GAPDH mRNA of tumorous and non-tumorous tissue was observed except of slightly increased NPR-A transcripts.. These data show that NPR transcripts are coexpressed with ANP and CNP mRNA in the human liver. This provides evidence for a local NP system in the human liver.

Topics: Aged; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Case-Control Studies; Gene Expression; Guanylate Cyclase; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Proteins; Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor; RNA, Messenger