Echocardi
Echocardiographic
Evaluation of Cardiac Structural and Functional Changes in Hepatitis C Positive
Non-Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis Patients and Their Plasma NT-ProBNP Levels
Manal Eldeeb1,
Ragai M. F. R. Fouda1, Mona M.R. Hammady1 and Laila
Rashed2
1Internal Medicine Department Cairo University, 2Biochemistry Department
Cairo University
Abstract: Background: Cirrhotic
cardiomyopathy (CC) refers to cardiac structural, functional, and
electrophysiological changes in liver cirrhosis (LC) patients. Emerging role of
natruretic peptides in screening LC patients for development of CC was
suggested. The aim of this study was to assess structural and functional
cardiac changes in hepatitis C positive nonalcoholic (LC) patients and N-
terminal pro brain natriuretic peptides (NT-proBNP) blood levels in these
patients.Methods: Forty hepatitis C positive LC patients classified
according to their child - Pugh score underwent transthorathic
echocardiographic assessment of cardiac chambers dimensions, and left
ventricular functions. Estimation of plasma NT-proBNP levels of these
patients and 10 healthy age and gender matched healthy control subjects was
done. Results:Child-Pugh C LC patients have significantly higher
mean left ventricular end diastolic (LVEDD) and end systolic dimensions (LVESD)
compared to those of Child- Pugh A and B LC patients. LV systolic function was
preserved in the three Child- Pugh groups, while diastolic dysfunction was
detected in 78.5% of Child- Pugh C patients. Mean plasma NT-proBNP level was
significantly higher in Child-Pugh C patients compared to mean plasma levels in
Child- Pugh A and B patients. ProBNP plasma levels correlated significantly
with serum albumin, bilirubin, creatinine, international normalized ratio,
Child-Pugh score, LVESD, LVEDD, left atrial and right ventricular diameters. Conclusion: Child-Pugh
C LC patients suffered of cardiac structural changes associated with diastolic
dysfunction and raised mean ProBNP plasma level but preserved systolic
function. NT-ProBNP levels correlated significantly with echocardiographic
changes and Child- Pugh score.
[Manal Eldeeb, Ragai M.
F. R. Fouda, Mona M.R. Hammady and Laila Rashed. Echocardiographic
Evaluation of Cardiac Structural and Functional Changes in Hepatitis C Positive
Non-Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis Patients and Their PlasmaNT-Probnp Levels. Life Sci J 2012;9(1):786-792]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 113
Key words: cirrhosis- cardiomyopathy-echocardiography-
NT-proBNP-Hepatitis Full Text 113
