Relationship between Pericardial Fluid B-type Natriuretic Peptide and Ventricular Structure and Function

Background ertook this study to investigate the levels of pericardial B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its relationship with ventricular structure and function. s rdial and plasma BNP concentrations were measured in 18 patients with congenital ventricular septal defect. s an level of BNP in the pericardial fluid (324.8 ± 137.3 pg/mL) was higher than the plasma (20.8 ± 6.1 pg/mL) (p = 0.03). Pericardial BNP was correlated with the plasma BNP (r = 0.85, p <0.01). A good correlation was also found between the pericardial BNP and left atrial diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction, right ventricular diameter and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (p <0.05). sions vels of BNP in pericardial fluid were higher than in the plasma. Similar to plasma BNP, pericardial BNP is also related to the ventricular structure and function.