Validity of N-terminal propeptide of the brain natriuretic peptide in predicting left ventricular diastolic dysfunction diagnosed by tissue Doppler imaging in patients with chronic liver disease

NT-proBNP predicts the development of acute-on-chronic liver failure and mortality in patients with cirrhosis listed for liver transplantation

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a major clinical event in cirrhosis that is characterized by high mortality rates and a short window for liver transplantation. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been suggested as a prognostic biomarker in cirrhosis. However, its accuracy in predicting the development of ACLF or mortality in candidates for liver transplantation remains unknown. This observational, retrospective, single-center study included 277 consecutive patients with cirrhosis who were listed for liver transplantation between 2014 and 2020 in Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Clinical data, including sarcopenia, serum cystatin C (CysC), and NT-proBNP levels, were collected at listing. The median MELD-Na and NT-proBNP levels at the time of listing were 16 points (13-22) and 123 (58-257) pg/mL, respectively. High NT-proBNP levels (≥125 pg/mL) were associated with the development of ACLF (subhazard ratio: 4.00, 95% CI: 1.76-9.10; p <0.001) and mortality (subhazard ratio: 3.89, 95% CI: 1.28-11.79, p =0.02) after adjusting for MELD-Na and CysC. Patients with NT-proBNP ≥125 pg/mL showed a significantly higher incidence of ACLF at 3 months (28.5% vs. 3.6%; p <0.001) and 12 months (49.2% vs. 6.1%; p <0.001). Mortality in the waiting list at 1 year was also significantly higher in patients with NT-proBNP ≥125 pg/mL (22.3% vs. 4%; p <0.001). Serum NT-proBNP emerges as a promising prognostic biomarker for ACLF development and mortality in patients with cirrhosis on the waiting list. Its integration into clinical practice could facilitate preventive interventions and improve prioritization on the waiting list.

Markers of cardiac injury in patients with liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is an increasing public health problem and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, a frequently underdiagnosed condition, is becoming a growing health problem. In the last 20 years, cardioselective biomarkers have been investigated for their diagnostic and prognostic properties for numerous conditions. The aim of this article is to review the literature on the relationship between the most commonly used cardioselective biomarkers (cardiac troponins I and T, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, and heart-type fatty-acid binding protein) and the presence, functional stage, and clinical outcomes of liver cirrhosis. Elevated plasma levels of these biomarkers have been reported in patients with liver cirrhosis, and there is mounting evidence on their predictive value for clinical outcomes in this disease. In addition, elevated plasma levels of these biomarkers have been reported in patients before, during, and after liver transplantation, but in fewer studies. Due to their predictive value for clinical outcomes, we advocate the use of these markers in patients with liver cirrhosis and cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, as well as in candidates for liver transplant.

Diagnosis and Management of Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy refers to the structural and functional changes in the heart leading to either impaired systolic, diastolic, electrocardiographic, and neurohormonal changes associated with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is present in 50% of patients with cirrhosis and is clinically seen as impaired contractility, diastolic dysfunction, hyperdynamic circulation, and electromechanical desynchrony such as QT prolongation. In this review, we will discuss the cardiac physiology principles underlying cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, imaging techniques such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy, cardiac biomarkers, and newer echocardiographic techniques such as tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking, and emerging treatments to improve outcomes.

METHODS

We reviewed available literature from MEDLINE for randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and real-world outcomes using the search terms "cirrhotic cardiomyopathy," "left ventricular diastolic dysfunction," "heart failure in cirrhosis," "liver transplantation," and "coronary artery disease".

RESULTS

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is associated with increased risk of complications such as hepatorenal syndrome, refractory ascites, impaired response to stressors including sepsis, bleeding or transplantation, poor health-related quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality. The evaluation of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy should also guide the feasibility of procedures such as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, dose titration protocol of betablockers, and liver transplantation. The use of targeted heart rate reduction is of interest to improve cardiac filling and improve the cardiac output using repurposed heart failure drugs such as ivabradine. Liver transplantation may also reverse the cirrhotic cardiomyopathy; however, careful cardiac evaluation is necessary to rule out coronary artery disease and improve cardiac outcomes in the perioperative period.

CONCLUSION

More data are needed on the new diagnostic criteria, molecular and biochemical changes, and repurposed drugs in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. The use of advanced imaging techniques should be incorporated in clinical practice.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in refractory ascites: clinical impact of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in cirrhotics are associated with circulatory dysfunction, hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) and heart failure in stressful conditions. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) exacerbates the hyperdynamic circulation and challenges cardiac function. We evaluated the incidence and the impact of LVDD in cirrhotic candidates to TIPS for refractory ascites.

METHODS

Among 135 patients who underwent TIPS for refractory ascites, 63 cases (child B/C 53/10, Na-model for end-stage liver disease 16.5 ± 0.9) who had 2D-transthoracic-echocardiography with tissue-Doppler-imaging pre-TIPS were retrospectively analysed (group A); in 23 cases cardiac and hormonal assessment before and after TIPS was available. 41 cirrhotics without refractory ascites treated by banding ligation for variceal re-bleeding were used as controls (group B).

RESULTS

The prevalence of LVDD was higher in group A (59%; 22% with grade ≥2) as compared to group B (35%; 7% with grade ≥2) (P < 0.01 and P < 0.03). A lack of clinical response to TIPS occurred in 10 patients, all with LVDD (P < 0.03 vs. no LVDD) and in patients with grade ≥2 LVDD mostly (P < 0.02 vs. grade 1). Central venous pressure >20 mmHg after TIPS and left ventricular end-diastolic volume at basal were predictors of no response to TIPS (P = 0.01 and P = 0.004, respectively), which was an independent predictor of death. Elevated levels of NT-proBNP 3 days after TIPS were associated with advanced cardiac dysfunction (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

NT-proBNP and careful LVDD investigation are useful to better select patients and to predict clinical response and mortality after TIPS.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) predicts 90-day mortality and need for paracentesis in cirrhotic patients without systolic heart failure

Fluid overload is a common complication in patients with cirrhosis. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a marker of increased blood volume, commonly used in heart failure, that has been shown to be elevated in patients with liver disease. This study examined if BNP levels can be used to determine prognosis and predict worsening of ascites in patients with cirrhosis without concomitant heart disease. A retrospective study was performed at a large urban hospital in Chicago, Illinois and included 430 patients with cirrhosis who had BNP levels ordered during their hospital stay. Patients with clinical heart failure, arrhythmias or pulmonary hypertension were excluded. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality and the secondary outcome was a requirement for therapeutic paracentesis in the 90 days following BNP results. 53 patients (12%) had BNP levels ≥ 300 pg/mL. They had significantly increased serum levels of creatinine, bilirubin, and International Normalized Ratio (INR) when compared to those with BNP < 300 pg/mL. Patients with higher BNP had significantly higher mortality rates (HR 3.49; p = 0.037) and were more likely to require therapeutic paracentesis (HR 2.26; p = 0.02) in the next 90 days. A BNP ≥ 300 pg/mL had specificity of 88.2% in predicting 90-day mortality. BNP may serve as a practical and reliable marker of underlying disease severity in patients with cirrhosis, with potential to be included in prognostication tools for assessment of end-stage liver disease.

Thermodynamic interference with bile acid demicelleization reduces systemic entry and injury during cholestasis

Bile acids (BA), with their large hydrophobic steroid nucleus and polar groups are amphipathic molecules. In bile, these exist as micelles above their critical micellar concentration (CMC). In blood at low concentrations, these exist as monomers, initiating cellular signals. This micellar to monomer transition may involve complex thermodynamic interactions between bile salts alone or with phospholipids, i.e. mixed micelles and the aqueous environment. We therefore went on to test if therapeutically relevant changes in temperature could influence micellar behavior of bile salts, and in turn whether this affected the biological responses in cells, and in vivo. Sodium taurocholate (STC) belongs to a major class of bile salts. STC has a CMC in the 5–8 mM range and its infusion into the pancreatic duct is commonly used to study pancreatitis. We thus studied micellar breakdown of STC using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), dynamic light scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. Under conditions relevant to the in vivo environment (pH 7.4, Na 0.15 M), ITC showed STC to have a U shaped reduction in micellar breakdown between 37 °C and 15 °C with a nadir at 25 °C approaching ≈90% inhibition. This temperature dependence paralleled pancreatic acinar injury induced by monomeric STC. Mixed micelles of STC and 1-palmitoyl, 2-oleyl phosphatidylcholine, a phospholipid present in high proportions in bile, behaved similarly, with ≈75% reduction in micellar breakdown at 25 °C compared to 37 °C. In vivo pancreatic cooling to 25 °C reduced the increase in circulating BAs after infusion of 120 mM (5%) STC into the pancreatic duct, and duct ligation. Lower BA levels were associated with improved cardiac function, reduced myocardial damage, shock, lung injury and improved survival independent of pancreatic injury. Thus micellar breakdown of bile salts is essential for their entry into the systemic circulation, and thermodynamic interference with this may reduce their systemic entry and consequent injury during cholestasis, such as from biliary pancreatitis.

NT-proBNP as a biomarker for hyperdynamic circulation in decompensated cirrhosis

AIM

To assess NT-proBNP as a biomarker for hyperdynamic circulation in decompensated cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND

Hyperdynamic circulation is common in decompensated cirrhosis. The previous studies reveal that N-terminal-proBNP (NT-proBNP) is elevated in cirrhosis.

METHODS

A prospective study involved 47 patients with decompensated cirrhosis. All of them underwent echocardiography with simultaneous measurement of blood pressure and heart rate. Cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance were calculated. The concentration of NT-proBNP in blood was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

In patients with decompensated cirrhosis, the concentration of NT-proBNP in blood directly correlated with end-diastolic volume (r=0.482; p<0.001), stroke volume (r= 0.566; p<0.001), cardiac output (r=0.556; p<0.001), volume of the left atrium (r=0.292; p=0.047), and inversely correlated with systemic vascular resistance (r=-0.538; p<0.001). There was no significant correlation between NT-proBNP and ejection fraction (p=0.083). Patients with hyperdynamic circulation have higher concentration of NT-proBNP (152÷476 pg/ml vs. 31÷133 pg/ml, p<0.001) regardless of the presence of diastolic dysfunction (p=0.222). According to ROC analysis, the best cut-off values for detection of hyperdynamic circulation in decompensated cirrhosis are considered to be 170.0 pg/ml of blood NT-proBNP, showing sensitivity and specificity of 72.0 and 86.4%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value are 86.4% and 73.1%, AUC = 0.829 (0.709-0.949).

CONCLUSION

NT-proBNP may serve as a non-invasive biomarker for hyperdynamic circulation in decompensated cirrhosis.

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy

During the course of cirrhosis, there is a progressive deterioration of cardiac function manifested by the disappearance of the hyperdynamic circulation due to a failure in heart function with decreased cardiac output. This is due to a deterioration in inotropic and chronotropic function which takes place in parallel with a diastolic dysfunction and cardiac hypertrophy in the absence of other known cardiac disease. Other findings of this specific cardiomyopathy include impaired contractile responsiveness to stress stimuli and electrophysiological abnormalities with prolonged QT interval. The pathogenic mechanisms of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy include impairment of the b-adrenergic receptor signalling, abnormal cardiomyocyte membrane lipid composition and biophysical properties, ion channel defects and overactivity of humoral cardiodepressant factors. Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy may be difficult to determine due to the lack of a specific diagnosis test. However, an echocardiogram allows the detection of the diastolic dysfunction and the E/e′ ratio may be used in the follow-up progression of the illness. Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the impairment of effective arterial blood volume and correlates with the degree of liver failure. A clinical consequence of cardiac dysfunction is an inadequate cardiac response in the setting of vascular stress that may result in renal hypoperfusion leading to renal failure. The prognosis is difficult to establish but the severity of diastolic dysfunction may be a marker of mortality risk. Treatment is non-specific and liver transplantation may normalize the cardiac function.

Systolic and diastolic dysfunction in cirrhosis: a tissue-Doppler and speckle tracking echocardiography study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Cardiac dysfunction has been described in patients with cirrhosis. Conventional echocardiographic methods are frequently unable to detect abnormalities at rest and have limitations. We aimed to evaluate cardiac function in cirrhosis patients assessing: (i) left ventricular systolic function using speckle-tracking imaging; (ii) diastolic function using a tissue-Doppler based algorithm and comparing it with previously proposed definition of diastolic dysfunction (DD).

METHODS

We included 109 hospitalized and ambulatory patients with cirrhosis and 18 healthy controls. Detailed echocardiographic evaluation was performed including tissue-Doppler and speckle-tracking analysis.

RESULTS

Peak systolic longitudinal strain (PLS) was lower in patients [-19.99% (-21.88 to -18.71) vs -22.02% (-23.10 to -21.18), P = 0.003]. Ejection fraction was similar in patients and controls [64% (59-67) vs 61% (60-65), P = 0.42)]. Based on mitral-flow pattern, DD was present in 44 patients (40.4%). Patients without DD had higher cardiac output compared with those with DD [6.4 L/min (5.4-7.2) vs 5.6 L/min (4.6-6.8), P = 0.02]. Using a tissue-Doppler based definition, the prevalence of DD was 16.5%. No differences in haemodynamic variables were found in patients with and without this definition of DD. The agreement between the two definitions of DD was weak (kappa = 0.24, P = 0.003). Echocardiographic abnormalities in systolic and diastolic function were not different in compensated vs decompensated patients in different Child-Pugh classes or cirrhosis aetiologies.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with cirrhosis have systolic and diastolic cardiac dysfunction at rest. Newer echocardiographic techniques may identify patients with functional impairment more accurately than conventional methods, which are more influenced by flow conditions.

Heart rhythm turbulence and NT-proBNP in decompensated liver cirrhosis--a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Heart rhythm turbulence (HRT) is a novel tool for evaluation of cardiovascular mortality. Liver cirrhosis is associated with hemodynamic and myocardial disturbances termed cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. In the stable stage of liver cirrhosis, systolic and myocardial dysfunction is correlated with brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). The aim was to evaluate HRT and its correlation with NT-proBNP, echocardiographic and biochemical parameters in patients with decompensation of liver cirrhosis.

MATERIAL/METHODS

The study included 18 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and 18 healthy volunteers. Participants underwent echocardiography and 24-hour ECG monitoring. Serum NT-proBNP and other biochemical parameters were measured. Turbulence onset (TO) and turbulence slope (TS) were used to indicate HRT.

RESULTS

Mean HR (87/min vs. 75/min), TO (-0.385% vs. -0.92%), NT-proBNP (304.85 pg/ml vs. 83.2 pg/ml), LAd (42.5 mm vs. 34.5 mm), RVdd (29.5 mm vs. 25 mm), SPAP (36.5 mmHg vs. 22.5 mmHg) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in patients with liver cirrhosis. Patients with normal TO and TS had better stage in Child-Pugh classification (P=0.04) than patients with abnormal values. Significant negative correlation was found between creatinine and TO, and between mean HR and TS, and significant positive correlation was found between LAd and TS. LV diastolic dysfunction was noted in a majority of cirrhotic patients (n=16).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with decompensated cirrhosis had elevated levels of NT-proBNP and LV diastolic dysfunction. TO values in cirrhotic patients differed significantly from the control group. These findings can indicate risk of symptomatic heart failure development and may be a marker of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. HRT parameters seem not to be appropriate death predicators.

Assessment of cardiac involvement of hepatitis C virus; tissue Doppler imaging and NTproBNP study

INTRODUCTION

Hepatitis C disease burden is substantially increasing in Egyptian community, it is estimated that prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Egyptian community reach 22% of total population. Recently there is a global alert of HCV cardiovascular complications.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate LV diastolic functions of HCV patients using tissue Doppler Imaging and NTPBNP.

METHODS

30 HCV patients of 30 years, sex & BMI matched controls were evaluated by PCR, ECG, Echocardiography "conventional Doppler, pulsed wave tissue Doppler (PW-TD), strain rate imaging" & NTPBNP to assess LV diastolic functions. Mean age was 32.8 years ± 5.1 in HCV group, 29.8 years ± 6.6 in control group. Cardiovascular anomalies and predisposing factors were excluded.

RESULTS

HCV group has shown significant increase in QTc interval, significant statistical increase in A wave, deceleration time; (p < 0.05), highly significant decrease in tissue Doppler E a (p < 0.001), highly significant decrease in A a (p < 0.001), highly significant increased E/E a ratio (p value < 0.001), significant decrease in E a/A a ratio and significant increase in SRa (p < 0.05). NTPBNP levels showed highly significant increase with mean value 222 pg/ml ± 283 in HCV group and 32.7 pg/ml ± 21.2 in control group (p value < 0.001). The best cut-off value of NTPBNP to detect diastolic dysfunction in HCV group was 213 pg/ml. No statistical differences in SRe/SRa and E/SRe ratios were observed, however they had significant correlation with NTPBNP level and tissue Doppler parameters. The best cut-off value of E/SRe ratio to detect diastolic dysfunction in HCV group was 0.91, with 75% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

This data show the first direct evidence that HCV infection causes diastolic dysfunction without any other predisposing factors, probably due to chronic inflammatory reaction with mild fibrosis in the heart. Previous studies did not follow strict inclusion and exclusion criteria that confirm the independent role of HCV to cause diastolic dysfunction. Tissue Doppler was more sensitive to diagnose diastolic dysfunction than conventional Doppler.

B-type natriuretic peptide is related to cardiac function and prognosis in hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations are high in cirrhosis, possibly related to volume status and cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. The prognostic significance of BNP in cirrhosis is unknown.

AIMS

We aimed to evaluate (i) the influence of haemodynamic parameters and volaemia, assessed by impedance cardiography (ICG), in BNP levels, (ii) the performance of BNP as a prognostic marker, in a cohort of cirrhotic patients.

METHODS

Patients consecutively hospitalized with decompensated cirrhosis during 1 year were evaluated. At admission, ICG and BNP measurements were performed in 83 patients (median age 56 years; median Child-Pugh score=10). The 70 patients discharged were followed for the occurrence of death within 6 months.

RESULTS

Median BNP levels were 130.3 (65.2-363.3) pg/ml. Independent BNP predictors in multivariate linear regression analysis were cardiac output, age and haemoglobin (R(2)=36.7%). The 24 patients with cardiac systolic dysfunction, defined by low cardiac output, had higher BNP concentrations than the other patients (230.8 vs 98.5 pg/ml, P=0.003). BNP levels above median were associated with an increased occurrence of death within 6 months of discharge (log rank P=0.023). Cardiac output and BNP were predictors of survival in univariate Cox regression analysis. Only BNP remained independently related to the outcome in multivariate analysis [hazard ratio=2.86 (1.11-7.38), P=0.03].

CONCLUSIONS

BNP levels in cirrhosis reflect cardiac systolic function and non-cardiac variables that should be considered in their interpretation. BNP is an independent predictor of medium-term survival in advanced cirrhosis, suggesting its utility in risk stratification of decompensated cirrhotic patients.