BNP hormone can be used to determine the risk of post-surgery complications in lung cancer

The authors aimed to determine whether a specific hormone could predict patients who would experience complications after lung cancer surgery. 

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a hormone produced by the heart when it is under pressure or over-worked and is commonly used to determine the risk of heart failure. Elevated BNP levels are also experienced in older individuals and those with impaired lung functioning and may potentially be used to determine if patients are at a high-risk of experiencing complications (problems with breathing or heart-beat, pneumonia) following lung surgery.

The aim of this study was to determine if BNP levels could be used to determine whether patients would experience complications after surgery.

675 patients were used in this study. 19% experienced complications after surgery.

BNP was the most significant factor in predicting post-surgery complications. Patients were separated into three groups: normal group (BNP levels of less than 30 pg/ml), mildly elevated group (BNP levels of 30-100 pg/ml) and severely elevated group (BNP levels of more than 100pg/ml).

Patients who had mildly or severely elevated BNP levels had reduced lung functioning and experienced a higher incidence of post-surgery complications compared to normal level patients. 47% of patients with mildly elevated BNP levels and 85% of patients with severely elevated BNP levels experienced complications after surgery compared to 11% of normal BNP patients. Mildly and severely elevated BNP patients also experienced more severe complications (heart-attack, severe or life-threatening inflammation of the lungs) compared to the normal BNP group, and had a 15% death rate compared to the 0% in the normal level group.

The authors conclude that BNP levels can be used to determine patients at risk of experiencing post-surgery complications.

Due to the small number of patients used in this study the results should be repeated in a larger population.

If you are considering surgery as a treatment option please consult your doctor on potential risks involved.