[Biohumoral markers and right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism: the answer to thrombolytic therapy].

Background: Recent data suggest that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and troponin I (TnII) are useful markers of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) and initial myocardial injury in acute pulmonary embolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate biohumoral activation and right ventricular function in patients with acute pulmonary embolism diagnosed at pulmonary scintigraphy.

Methods: We observed 12 patients with massive pulmonary embolism (MPE), 8 with non-massive pulmonary embolism (NMPE) and RVD, 6 with NMPE without RVD.