Usefulness of basal B-type natriuretic peptide levels for the diagnosis of diastolic heart failure in young patients: an echocardiographic-catheterization study

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to address the diagnostic relevance of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for the diagnosis of diastolic heart failure (DHF) in young patients presenting with chronic, isolated dyspnea. We prospectively included 26 consecutive patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction >50% referred for catheterism. DHF was authenticated in 15 patients with an invasive left ventricular end-diastolic pressure >16 mmHg. By logistic regression analysis, BNP was predictive of DHF (p=0.03). A cut-off value of 31 pg/ml was 67% sensitive and 73% specific for the diagnosis (area under the ROC curve of 0.76 [0.55-0.9], p=0.007).