The Relationship Between Plasma B-type Natriuretic Peptide And Liver Function In Patients With Cirrhosis

Objective: To assess the relationship between plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and the condition of hepatic function, and analyze the correlation between plasma BNP level and each of the three important indexes (including serum albumin, total bilirubin and prothrombin time) which are used for the evaluation of hepatic function.Methods: To detect the plasma BNP levels by enzyme immunoassay in 80 patients, including 50 of them with hepatic cirrhosis (as cirrhosis group) and 30 of them with hepatic diseases but non-cirrhosis (as control group).And analyze the relationship between the plasma BNP level and Child-Pugh grading of hepatic function in patients with hepatic cirrhosis, and the correlation between plasma BNP level and eac of the three important indexes (including serum albumin, total bilirubin and prothrombin time).Results:1. The plasma BNP levels in cirrhosis group ranged at 283.48±711.55 pg/ml, while in control group they ranged at 48.53±27.7 pg/ml. And the plasma BNP levels in cirrhosis group were significantly higher than those in control group(P<0.05).2. The relationship between the plasma BNP level and Child- Pugh grading: The plasma BNP levels ranged at 37.46±22.29 pg/ml, 159.76±107.50pg/ml, 417.82±271.75pg/ml in Child grading A (12 cases), Child grading B (24 cases) and Child grading C (14 cases) respectively. The plasma BNP levels were elevated with the grade of Child-pugh classification. And the associations among these three groups were significant (P<0.05). Spearman test showed that there was obviously positive correlation between the plasma BNP level and Child-Pugh grading (r=0.737, P<0.01). Regression equation is:Child-Pugh grading in patients with hepatic cirrhosis (Y) = 1.588+0.737BNP.3. The correlation between the plasma BNP level and serum albumin was significantly negative by regression analysis (P<0.05). The less the serum albumin was, the higher the plasma BNP level got. Regression equation is:the plasma BNP level=1480.635-38.96serum albumin.4. The plasma BNP level was significantly positive when correlated with the serum total bilirubin by regression analysis (P< 0.05). The more the serum albumin was, the higher the plasma BNP level got. Regression equation was: the plasma BNP level= -1176.708+102.686 serum total bilirubin.5. Regression analysis was manipulated on the correlation between the plasma BNP level and the prothrombin time(PT). The correlation between the plasma BNP level the PT was significantly positive(P<0.05). The longer the PT was, the higher the plasma BNP level got. Regression equation was:the plasma BNP level=-1176.70+102.686PT.Conclusion:1. The plasma BNP levels in patients with cirrhosis were obviously higher than those in the control group.2. The plasma BNP levels in patients with cirrhosis were related to the damage of liver function. The function of the liver went worse with the increasing of the plasma BNP level, suggesting that the plasma BNP levels can be used as one of the indicators for the evaluation of liver function.3. The correlation between plasma BNP level in patients in the cirrhosis group and serum albumin was negative. The serum albumin decreased with the increasing of the plasma BNP level.4. In cirrhosis, the BNP level was positive when correlated with plasma total bilirubin. The more the serum albumin was, the higher the plasma BNP level got.5. The plasma BNP levels in patients with cirrhosis had positive correlation with PT. The longer the PT were, the higher the plasma BNP levels got.