[The Stady of Pulmonary Hypertension and Plasma BNP Values in Respiratory Diseases]

We measured plasma BNP and hANP levels and studied the relationship to echocardiographic findings in 49 patients who visited or admitted in our hospital due to dyspnea (25 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 8 with interstitial pneumonia, 16 with sequelae of tuberculosis). The age in the interstitial pneumonia group was lower and the arterial blood partial pressure of CO2 was higher in the sequelae of tuberculosis group. Plasma BNP and hANP levels were similar in the three groups. Plasma BNP level did not correlate with the pressure gradient measured from tricuspid valve regurgitation. Some patients had pulmonary hypertension despite having low plasma BNP levels. Hypoxemia was more severe in the higher BNP level group than in the lower BNP level group. Plasma BNP levels did not reflect pulmonary hypertension unless these was left ventricular failure or valvular diseases in these groups.