Researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic utility of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to differentiate constrictive pericarditis (CP) and restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM). The results were published in Clinical Cardiology.
To conduct this study, the investigators searched electronic databases from inception to January 07, 2021. They focused on studies involving adult patients that assessed the utility of natriuretic peptides to differentiate CP and RCM. Random-effects modeling was used for analysis. In total, 7 studies (4 case-control and 3 cohorts) involving 204 patients were included in the analysis.
The study found that BNP levels were significantly lower (standardized median difference [SMD], -1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.33 to -0.63) in patients with CP compared to RCM. The pooled area under the curve (AUC) of the BNP level was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.70-0.92). NT-proBNP (SMD, -0.86; 95% CI, -1.38 to -0.33) and log NT-proBNP (SMD, -1.89; 95% CI, -2.59 to -1.20) levels were significantly lower in patients with CP compared to RCM, the researchers noted.
“Our review shows that BNP and NT-proBNP levels were significantly lower in patients with CP compared to RCM. The pooled AUC of BNP level showed a good diagnostic accuracy to differentiate both conditions,” the researchers concluded.
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34967020/
Keywords: constrictive pericarditis, natriuretic peptides, restrictive cardiomyopathy, systematic review
