Utility of Brain Natriuretic Peptide as a Biomarker for Early Detection of Preeclampsia among Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in a Secondary Health Facility in Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: The aim was to determine the suitability of brain natriuretic peptide as a biomarker for early detection of preeclampsia Study Design: This was a prospective case-control research. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Central Hospital Benin, from November 2014 – December 2017. Methodology: The study involved 248 women who were organized into two groups; a preeclampsia group and a normotensive, normal pregnant group. Patients with a history of cardiovascular illness, renal disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, hepatic disease, or any other connected conditions, including urinary tract infections, were not eligible. Participants in the study underwent a single antecubital venipuncture, during which 5ml of venous blood was taken using a sterile disposable syringe.  The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptides. Results: The area under the curve (AUC) of BNP fluctuated across trimesters, reaching 87.1% in the second and 70.5% in the third (p 0.05). Sensitivity ranged from 80.0% in the second trimester to 79.1% in the third, but was 100% in the postpartum period for sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and negative predictive value. Reference values for BNP as a yardstick for questioning preeclampsia were determined to be 395.56 pg/ml at the start of the second trimester and 438.81 pg/ml at the end of the third trimester, with sensitivities and specificities all above 75%. Conclusion:BNP can be relied upon as a diagnostic biomarker for predicting preeclampsia.