Key result
Furosemide is linked to malignant pleural effusion reduction in 80% of patients with elevated BNP.
Why the study?
While drainage is effective for malignant pleural effusion, it carries risks, leading to interest in diuretics whose role remains unclear.
Does serum BNP predict response to furosemide in patients with malignant pleural effusion?
Observational (n=13)
Yes
Does serum BNP predict response to furosemide in patients with malignant pleural effusion?
Serum BNP > 132 pg/mL may be a useful biomarker for selecting candidates for diuretic therapy in malignant pleural effusions.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support BNP to select furosemide candidates in malignant pleural effusion; leaves open its utility pending larger confirmatory studies.
Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) significantly diminishes the quality of life in cancer patients.While drainage is effective, it carries associated risks, leading to interest in diuretics, whose role remains unclear.In a series of 13 patients with metastatic disease treated with furosemide, 46% experienced improvement in dyspnea.Notably, patients with serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels > 132 pg/mL showed a superior response, both in symptom relief and effusion reduction.This suggests that BNP may be a useful biomarker for selecting candidates for diuretic therapy in MPEs.
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Sáenz-Trevizo et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Malignant pleural effusion (n=13). Furosemide vs. Patients with BNP ≤ 132 pg/mL was evaluated on Reduction in pleural effusion (≥ 10%) at 5 days. In patients with malignant pleural effusion, furosemide reduced pleural effusion in 80% of patients with serum BNP > 132 pg/mL compared to 0% in those with BNP ≤ 132 pg/mL.
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