The relationship of plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension

Objective To investigate the relationship of plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)and left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH)in patients with essential hypertension.Methods The plasma level of BNP was measured with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method in 32 hypertensive patients without left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH)(NLVH group),30 patients with essential hypertension with LVH(LVH group),and 30 healthy adults(control group).Doppler echocardiography was employed to determine left ventricular mass index(LVMI)and observe the correlation of plasma BNP level with LVMI.Results The plasma BNP level was significantly elevated in LVH group than that of NLVH group and control group(P0.01).The plasma BNP level was significantly higher in NLVH group than that of control group(P0.01).BNP level was positively correlated with LVMI in hypertensive patients with LVH(r=0.64,P0.01).Conclusion BNP level may reflex the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension.