Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary hypertension: brain natriuretic peptide as a marker of pulmonary hypertension

Summary. Results of the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements in 47 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (5 females, 42 males, the mean age, 57.0 ± 9.9 years) with normal left heart function have been presented in this article. Lung function testing, blood gas analysis, and non-invasive assessment of the central haemodynamics with estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPsys) were performed and BNP was measured in the blood plasma. Plasma BNP concentration in COPD patients with increased PAPsys was significantly higher (346.2 ± 68.7 ng × mL–1) compared to that in patients with normal PAPsys (216.8 ± 77.2 ng × mL–1). A significant relationship was found between PAPsys and BNP concentration in COPD patients (r = 0.76; p < 0.05). ROC-analysis showed high sensitivity and specificity of plasma BNP concentration for diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in COPD patients. Therefore, plasma BNP concentration reflects PAP level and could be used as a marker of pulmonary hypertension in COPD.