Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT- proBNP) and cardiovascular function in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods Fortyone MHD patients were divided into 2 groups based on plasma NT-proBNP level before hemodialysis: low NT-proBNP group (NT-proBNP ＜7,000 pg/ml) and high NT-proBNP group (NT-proBNP >7,000 pg/ml). Clinical and biochemical indicators, echocardiography, and average blood pressure during hemodialysis were recorded. Results Plasma NT-proBNP level higher than normal was found in 93.8% MHD patients. NT-proBNP level correlated positively with left ventricular end diastolic diameter, left ventricular diameter, interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left ventricular mass index, and systolic blood pressure (P＜0.05), and negatively with left ventricular ejection fraction (P＜0.05). Left ventricular diameter (t=- 3.631), interventricular septal thickness (t=- 3.665), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (t=- 3.396), left ventricular mass index (t=- 3.396), pulse pressure (t=- 2.048), and systolic blood pressure (t=- 2.199) were significantly higher in the high NT-proBNP group than in the low NT-proBNP group (P＜0.05).
When the cut-off value of plasma NT-proBNP was set at 7,000 pg/ml, the sensitivity and specificity for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy were 82.4% and 91.7%, respectively, and the AUC was 0.878 (P＜0.05). Conclusions plasma NT-proBNP is an important biomarker for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy and for the evaluation of left ventricular function and reconstruction in MHD patients. Left ventricular hypertrophy and reconstruction are prevalent in patients with NT-proBNP ＞7,000 pg/ml. The increase of plasma NT-proBNP is correlated with the degree of hypertension.

Key words: Mintenance hemodialysis, NT-proBNP, Cardiovascular function, Hypertention