Key result
Healthy pregnancy was associated with significantly higher pooled median serum NT-proBNP levels compared to non-pregnant controls (56 vs. 38 pg/ml; p<0.001).
Why the study?
Are serum NT-proBNP levels increased in healthy pregnancies compared to non-pregnant controls?
Observational (n=615)
Are serum NT-proBNP levels increased in healthy pregnancies compared to non-pregnant controls?
Absolute Event Rate: 56% vs 38%
p-value: p=<0.001
NT-proBNP is significantly elevated in healthy pregnancies until mid-pregnancy, establishing a baseline that must be considered when using this biomarker to evaluate pathologic conditions like preeclampsia.
May warrant pregnancy-specific NT-proBNP thresholds in clinical assessment; leaves open prospective validation studies.
Serum concentrations of the amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may be used to monitor cardiac function during pregnancy but normal values are not established for this purpose. Therefore, we investigated NT-proBNP in normotensive healthy pregnancies compared to a non-pregnant control group. Serum NT-proBNP was measured in 94 normotensive, healthy pregnant women (32+/-6 years) every five weeks beginning from 12th gestational week (GW) in a longitudinal study and compared to a non-pregnant control group of 521 women (32+/-7 years). Pooled median serum NT-proBNP levels (25th; 75th percentile) were significantly higher in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women (56 (33; 95) pg/ml vs. 38 (22; 62) pg/ml (p<0.001)). NT-proBNP increased during pregnancy to 73 (51; 124) pg/ml in the 11+6 to 15+6 GW (p<0.001). However, NT-proBNP levels from 23+0 GW towards term were comparable to non-pregnant controls. NT-proBNP is significantly elevated in healthy pregnancies until mid-pregnancy. As preeclampsia and gestational hypertension are associated with increased NT-proBNP, our results have to be considered in future diagnostic approaches using NT-proBNP for these pathologic conditions.
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Franz et al. (2008) conducted an observational in Healthy pregnancy (n=615). Pregnancy vs. Non-pregnant controls was evaluated on Pooled median serum NT-proBNP levels (pg/ml) (p=<0.001). Healthy pregnancy was associated with significantly higher pooled median serum NT-proBNP levels compared to non-pregnant controls (56 vs. 38 pg/ml; p<0.001).
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