Positive pressure ventilation treatment reduces plasma levels of amino terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide in congestive heart failure patients with sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND The purpose of the present study was to assess the short-term effects of positive pressure ventilation (PPV) on plasma amino terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and sleep apnea (SA). METHODS AND RESULTS Polysomnography was performed in 105 CHF patients. Twenty-six patients with CHF and SA were randomly assigned to a control group or a PPV group. Patients in the higher New York Heart Association classes had higher plasma levels of NT-proBNP. The plasma NT-proBNP concentration in the PPV group decreased. CONCLUSION Plasma NT-proBNP levels reflect the severity of CHF, and PPV can decrease plasma NT-proBNP levels in patients with CHF and SA.