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Decreased plasma concentration of brain natriuretic peptide as a potential indicator of cardiac recovery in patients supported by mechanical circulatory assist systems

Ralf Sodian, MD^*,*, Matthias Loebe, MD, PhD^* , Christoph Schmitt, MD^*, Evgenij V. Potapov, MD^*, Henryk Siniawski, MD^*, Johannes Müller, MD^*, Harald Hausmann, MD^*, Heinz R. Zurbruegg, MD^*, Yuguo Weng, MD, PhD^* and Roland Hetzer, MD, PhD^*

^* Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TexasUSA

View larger version (30K): [in a new window]   Figure 1 (A) Higher plasma concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) before the implantation of an assist device in all patients when compared with BNP levels during circulatory support. *p < 0.05 between groups. (B) Reduction of BNP plasma levels within the patient groups.

View larger version (28K): [in a new window]   Figure 2 (A) Atrial natriuretic plasma concentrations in all patients during circulatory support. (B) Atrial natriuretic plasma levels within the patient groups.