Changes and significance of plasma NT-proBNP level in patients treated with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration

AIM:To explore the influence and significance of serum NT-proBNP level in patients treated with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) and to investigate the relationship of NT-proBNP and heart function before and after CVVH therapy. METHODS: Clinical data of 50 patients treated with CVVH therapy were retrospectively analyzed. The level of NT-proBNP was measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and the changes of NT-proBNP with LVEF were compared before and after CVVH therapy. RESULTS: The NT-proBNP level before CVVH therapy was significant higher than that after CVVH therapy (P<0.01). Before CVVH therapy, NT-proBNP was closely related to LVEF (Pearson correlation is -0.783), whereas after CVVH the correlation of NT-proBNP and LVEF disappeared. Before CVVH therapy, the NT-proBNP level of nonsurvivors was higher than that of survivors, whereas after CVVH no statistically difference was observed between nonsurvivors and survivors. CONCLUSION: CVVH therapy significantly decreases plasma NT-proBNP level and the descent is closely related to the amount of dehydration and time of CVVH therapy. As a biochemical marker to evaluate the heart function of patient, NT-proBNP should be cautiously used in patients with renal insufficiency and patients treated with CVVH.