NT-pro-BNP levels as a marker of success of percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy.

Background: Brain natriureticpeptide (BNP) levels are elevated in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) and decrease after a successful percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC).
Methods: In 37 consecutive patients of symptomatic MS (mean age 30 +/- 8.6 years) NTpro BNP levels were determined pre and 24-hours post PTMC. We seek to determine whether NT-pro-BNP levels be used as a marker of success of PTMC.
Results: PTMC was successful orpartial successful in 33 (89 %) cases. The mean NT-pro- BNP levels decreasedfrom 771 +/- 456 pg/ml to 700 +/- 595 pg/ml (p < 0.05) following PTMC. The mean NT-pro-BNP levels decreased by 20.6% in patients with a successful PTMC and decreased by 10.8% in patients with a partially successful PTMC, while the levels increased by 33.4% in patients with an unsuccessful procedure. Patients with associated aortic regurgitation failed to show a decline in NT-pro-BNP levels despite a successful procedure.
Conclusion: NT-pro-BNP levels fall significantly after a successful PTMC, and a significant decrease in levels is a good marker of success of PTMC. It may not decrease in patients with associated aortic regurgitation despite a successfiul PTMC.