ObjectiveTo explore whether nesiritide (recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide, rh-BNP) could be used to treat pulmonary artery hypertension. MethodsA 34-year-old female patient with severe symptomatic idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension was reported, who was refractory to routine therapies, including prostacyclin. Therapy with continuous nesiritide infusion resulted in significant decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance and an improvement in dyspnea. The relevant literature was reviewed. ResultsThe clinical symptoms of this patient relieved significantly after nesiritide therapy. Literature review showed that nesiritide could increase the production of nitrogen oxides and cyclic guanosine monophosphate in the body, so as to dilate the vessels which were shrunk due to hypoxia and low down the pulmonary vascular resistance. ConclusionNesiritide is useful to treat severe pulmonary artery hypertension, and combination with phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors may be a brand new therapy of value.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of intravenous infusion of recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide in rheumatic heart valves patients with cardiorenal syndrome preoperatively, the function and operational results before and after treatment were compared. MethodsA randomized, single-blind, and controlled study was conducted in 60 patients characterized of rheumatic heart valves patients in our hospital from March 2012 through March 2015. There were 24 males and 36 females at average age of 52.1±8.9 years (ranged from 35-73 years). Their left ventricular ejection fraction was less than 40% and plasma creatinine was mildly or moderately raised. They were recruited into an experiment group and a control group by random digital table. The control group received continuous intravenous Dopamine and Nitroglycerin based anti-heart failure treatment (n=30). The experimental group received additional recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide for 48 hours without bolus (at a dose of 0.006 μg·kg-1·min-1, n=30). The levels of the biomarkers for cardiac and renal function between before and after treatment were compared. ResultsIn the experiment group, treatment with recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide for 48 hours had lower level of plasma NT-proBNP than the baseline level with a statistical difference (88.6±55.1 pg/ml vs. 55.0±47.6 pg/ml, P=0.014), lower level of high sensitivity creative reaction protein than the baseline level with a statistical difference (2.79±1.27 mg/l vs. 1.39±0.79 mg/l, P=0.000), more 24 hours urine output than the baseline level with a statistical difference (1 464.0±348.3 ml vs. 1 223.0±279.9 ml, P=0.005), lower level of serum cystatin-C than the baseline level with a statistical difference (0.25±0.14 mg/l vs. 0.08±0.07 mg/l, P=0.000), higher inotrope requirement within three days after operation (2.52±1.30 mg·kg-1·min-1 vs.3.36±1.15 mg·kg-1·min-1, P=0.011), less ICU stay days (4.5±1.2 days vs. 5.3±1.6 days, P=0.03). There were no statistical differences between the experiment group and the control group after treatment in cardiac function class, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, creatinine, chest tube drainage volume, and intra-aortic balloon pumping use. ConclusionIntravenous injection of recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide in the patients with rheumatic valve disease combined with cardiorenal syndrome before operation can decrease systemic inflammation reaction and cardiac and renal function injury, and enhance operational recovery.