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N-TproBNP as Biomarker in Systemic Sclerosis

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Abstract

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by tissue fibrosis affecting the skin and internal organs, fibroproliferative vasculopathy, and autoimmune activation. SSc still heralds a poor prognosis with significant morbidity and mortality. Early detection of organ involvement is critical as currently available treatments are most effective when started early. Many candidate biomarkers have been investigated in the past two decades. However, despite the enormous efforts, no accurate tool to predict the pattern of organ involvement and to assess disease activity has been yet identified. The N-terminal fragment of probrain natriuretic peptide (N-TproBNP) is a neurohormone released by ventricular myocytes in response to pressure overload. N-TproBNP is highly relevant for diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of pulmonary arterial hypertension in SSc. Moreover, several studies support its potential benefit for cardiac assessment of scleroderma patients. Conversely, the role of N-TproBNP as surrogate marker of pulmonary fibrosis and skin involvement is much less clear. We provide an extensive review of the studies that have previously investigated the role of N-TproBNP as candidate biomarker in scleroderma manifestations, presenting also the findings of a recent study we conducted in a cohort of 87 SSc patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chair and Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto G. Pini, University of Milan & IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy

    Tommaso Schioppo, Carolina Artusi, Teresa Ciavarella, Francesca Ingegnoli, Antonella Murgo, Silvana Zeni, Cecilia Chighizola & Pier Luigi Meroni

  2. Division of Rheumatology, Istituto G. Pini, Piazza C. Ferrari, 1, 20122, Milan, Italy

    Pier Luigi Meroni

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  1. Tommaso Schioppo
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  2. Carolina Artusi
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  3. Teresa Ciavarella
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  4. Francesca Ingegnoli
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  7. Cecilia Chighizola
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  8. Pier Luigi Meroni
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Correspondence to Pier Luigi Meroni.

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Tommaso Schioppo and Carolina Artusi equally contributed to the paper.

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Schioppo, T., Artusi, C., Ciavarella, T. et al. N-TproBNP as Biomarker in Systemic Sclerosis. Clinic Rev Allerg Immunol 43, 292–301 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-012-8312-4

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