Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Aug 2006
Controlled Clinical TrialN-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide levels: correlation with echocardiographically determined left ventricular diastolic function in an ambulatory cohort.
To investigate the correlations of plasma N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels with echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular (LV) systolic and/or diastolic function. ⋯ In this clinically stable, ambulatory cohort of patients with cardiovascular disease and healthy control subjects, plasma NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in those with LV systolic dysfunction and/or elevated filling pressures, independent of the effects of LV mass, renal function, and age. These results suggest that NT-proBNP levels may be a useful adjunct in the characterization of patients presenting with history and/or symptoms compatible with LV systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Aug 2006
Controlled Clinical TrialThe prognostic value of pulmonary vascular capacitance determined by Doppler echocardiography in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
We sought to determine if a novel measurement of pulmonary vascular (PV) capacitance (PVCAP) by Doppler echocardiography predicts all-cause mortality in patients with primary pulmonary arterial (PA) hypertension (PPAH). ⋯ The novel measure of PVCAP, as determined by Doppler echocardiography, is a strong noninvasive predictor of mortality in patients with PPAH and adds prognostic value to conventional risk markers.