Key result
Larger CT main pulmonary artery diameter correlates with higher NT-proBNP levels in COPD-related PAH.
Why the study?
PAH is difficult to diagnose non-invasively due to non-specific symptoms, prompting evaluation of whether CT-based main pulmonary artery diameter and serum NT-proBNP correlate with PAH severity on echocardiography.
Cross-Sectional (n=63)
No
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
In patients with PAH due to COPD, main pulmonary artery diameter on CT scan significantly correlates with pulmonary artery pressure and serum NT-proBNP levels, supporting its utility as a non-invasive marker.
Background: Due to its non-specific symptoms, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is difficult to diagnose via non-invasive methods. Various diagnostic tests are required to evaluate PAH patients. The increased diameter of the main pulmonary artery in computed tomography (CT) imaging represents a high probability of PAH. Moreover, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and pro B-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) can be considered as prognostic predictors in patients with PAH. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of CT-based main pulmonary artery diameter (MPAD) and the serum level of NT-proBNP (as a strong pro-inflammatory factor) with the severity of PAH in echocardiography among patients with PAH. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 63 hospitalized patients with PAH due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were recruited from 2019 to 2020 after initial evaluations and collection of serum NT-proBNP measurements and echocardiographic findings. On the chest CT scans, the largest diameter of the pulmonary artery trunk was determined, and then, correlation of CT-based MPAD with both PAH severity on echocardiography and NT-proBNP level in patients with PAH were evaluated. Results: The results of the present study on 63 patients (70% male; mean age, 67.02 years) showed a significant positive correlation between the MPAD and NT-proBNP level (r = 0.444, P < 0.001). Moreover, a significant positive relationship was observed between the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and NT-proBNP (r = 0.353, P = 0.005) and also between MPAD and PAP (r = 0.306, P = 0.015). In PAH patients, the mean values of MPAD, PAP, and NT-proBNP were 32.58 mm, 47.9 mmHg, and 6563 pg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the significant positive correlation between PAP, MPAD, and NT-proBNP level in subgroup comparisons based on MPAD and PAP, if the MPAD is abnormal on CT scan, additional echocardiographic assessments and serum NT-proBNP measurements can be helpful.
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Gharibi et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (n=63). Main pulmonary artery diameter (MPAD) was evaluated on Correlation between MPAD and NT-proBNP level (r = 0.444, p=< 0.001). Main pulmonary artery diameter on CT scan showed a significant positive correlation with serum NT-proBNP levels (r = 0.444, P < 0.001) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension due to COPD.
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