Athlete's heart or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Usefulness of N-Terminal pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide

Brain natriuretic peptide and the athlete’s heart: a pilot study

“…In this study, BNP levels < 11.8 pg/ml had a specificity of 88% and a NPV of 74% for excluding HCM in athletes, suggesting that BNP could be a useful preparticipation screening test in this population. Our results are supported by previous reports (4–6). In a small study which included three patients with apical HCM, seven runners, six healthy volunteers and six hypertensive patients, resting BNP values were 10‐fold higher in the HCM group (4).…”

“…Another recent study suggested that BNP might be useful in the evaluation of athletes with suspected abnormal LV hypertrophy (grey zone, IVS thickness between 12 and 15 mm) (6). However, the training protocol and the specific sports that these athletes were performing were not reported (6). This pilot study has some limitations.…”

“…However, major cardiac abnormalities were not identified, and therefore the screening value of BNP could not be assessed (5). Another recent study suggested that BNP might be useful in the evaluation of athletes with suspected abnormal LV hypertrophy (grey zone, IVS thickness between 12 and 15 mm) (6). However, the training protocol and the specific sports that these athletes were performing were not reported (6).…”

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy vs athlete's heart

“…NTproBNP, which was previously reported to be usually normal in healthy athletes, was recently reported to be elevated in HCM [42]. Thus, in active athletes presenting with ambiguous left ventricular hypertrophy, abnormal NT-proBNP levels indicate HCM, whereas normal values are inclusive [42].…”

Cœur d’athlète ou cardiomyopathie hypertrophique ?

“…De même, s'il y a des arythmies ventriculaires adrénergiques sur l'enregistrement Holter avec session d'entraînement incorporé. L'intérêt du dosage du BNP et du NT-pro BNP qui seraient élevés seulement dans la CMH reste à confirmer[16]. Une période de désentraînement peut être proposée.…”