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Croatian Medical Journal, Vol. 53 No. 4, 2012.

Original scientific paper

New insight into the role of NT-proBNP in alcoholic liver cirrhosis as a noninvasive marker of esophageal varices

Neven Ljubičić orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-5207-4357 ; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Marija Gomerčić ; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Dražen Zekanović ; Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Zadar, Zadar, Croatia
Tomislava Bodrožić- Džakić ; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Đuzel ; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia

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Abstract

Aim To investigate the association between plasma concentrations
of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide
(NT-proBNP) and formation of esophageal varices.
Methods Thirty-five patients with alcoholic cirrhosis were
divided into three groups according to the Child-Pugh
classification: grade A (n = 11, 32%), B (n = 12, 34%), and
C (n = 12, 34%). System hemodynamic parameters were
measured using sphygmomanometry, electrocardiography,
and echocardiography. NT-proBNP was analyzed by
using an electrochemiluminiscence sandwich immunoassay.
Results The presence of esophageal varices was associated
with a higher serum NT-proBNP level, with a cut-off
value of >101 pg/mL (sensitivity, 87.60% and specificity,
72.73%; P < 0.001).
Conclusions NT-proBNP was found to be a marker of the
presence of esophageal varices, but not a marker of progression
of liver cirrhosis. In cirrhotic patients, NT-proBNP
value >101 pg/mL was shown to be a valuable noninvasive
parameter in predicting the presence of varices.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

86023

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/86023

Publication date:

15.8.2012.

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