[The significance of N-terminal pro-B natriuretic peptide in the management of adult patients with congenital heart disease - Results from the CSONGRAD Registry].

Introduction: The prognostic role of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level was confirmed in chronic heart failure and congenital heart diseases irrespective of the aetiology.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare NT‑proBNP measured in the clinical practice and important clinical and echocardiographic parameters in patients with adult congenital heart diseases under our care.

Method: Data of a total of 70 patients were analysed; 34 patients had corrected tetralogy of Fallot and 19 patients had corrected transposition of the great arteries. In 17 further cases, patients with other congenital vitiums have been involved in the study. In all cases, out-patient examination was performed with electrocardiography, echocardiography and NT-proBNP measurement. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) stages of the patients were determined and the patients filled in a questionnaire regarding their quality of life.

Results: Elevated NT-proBNP level resulted in a worse quality of life (visual analogue scale, VAS) and an increased right ventricular end diastolic diameter; the incidence of arrhythmia increased as well. Negative correlation was found between the NT-proBNP level and the VAS value (r = -0.45, p = 0.0001) and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LV-EF) (r = -0.67, p = <0.0001). ROC analysis showed that NT‑proBNP≥668.1 pg/ml was the cut-off value that most accurately predicted NYHA class III-IV (sensitivity 93%, specificity 63%, area under the curve 80%, p = 0.001). Similarly, NT-proBNP≥184.7 pg/ml was found to be the cut-off value most accurately predicting LV-EF below 55% (sensitivity 66%, specificity 67%, area under the curve 77%, p = 0.02).

Conclusions: NT-proBNP has a role in the evaluation of adult patients with congenital heart diseases and in determining the prognosis of these patients, and in addition to other examinations used in the follow-up of these patients, NT-proBNP may help in determining the time of reoperation or potential heart transplantation. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(4): 141-148.