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N-terminal pro-BNP in sclerodermic patients on bosentan therapy for PAH

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Abstract

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by vascular dysfunction that may lead to pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). The N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proNBP), a marker of cardiac failure, is a diagnostic marker of early PAH in patients with SSc without heart failure. Our aim was to determine whether NT-proBNP levels may be a useful tool to evaluate the response to bosentan therapy in patients with PAH secondary to SSc. Ten patients with symptomatic, severe PAH secondary to SSc, received bosentan, 62.5 mg twice a day for 4 weeks followed by 125 mg twice a day for 7 months. Ten patients with SSc without PAH served as controls for basal level of NT-proBNP. Blood samples were obtained before the beginning of the therapy and after 3 and 7 months of treatment. SSc patients with PAH had significantly higher serum levels of NT-proBNP than those without PAH, at baseline. After 3 and 7 months of therapy, NT-proBNP concentration showed a progressive decrease, nearly approaching statistical difference at 7 months when compared to baseline levels (P = 0.953 and P = 0.600). Our results show that serum NT-proBNP levels may be a useful marker for the response to bosentan therapy in patients with PAH secondary to SSc.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Dr. Nicola Martinelli for statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, P.le LA Scuro, 37134, Verona, Italy

    Sara Simeoni, Elisa Tinazzi, Roberto Corrocher & Claudio Lunardi

  2. Department of Morphological and Biomedical Sciences, Section of Clinical Chemistry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Giuseppe Lippi & Martina Montagnana

  3. Institute G. Gaslini, University of Genova, Genova, Italy

    Antonio Puccetti

  4. Cardiology Unit, University Hospital, Verona, Italy

    Daniele Prati

Authors
  1. Sara Simeoni
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  2. Giuseppe Lippi
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  3. Antonio Puccetti
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  4. Martina Montagnana
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  5. Elisa Tinazzi
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  6. Daniele Prati
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  7. Roberto Corrocher
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  8. Claudio Lunardi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claudio Lunardi.

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Simeoni, S., Lippi, G., Puccetti, A. et al. N-terminal pro-BNP in sclerodermic patients on bosentan therapy for PAH. Rheumatol Int 28, 657–660 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-007-0510-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-007-0510-7

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