RESUMEN
The aim of the study was to assess the significance of NT-proBNP levels as a predictor of the severity of patients' condition after severe TBI and critical stress of the heart. In this prospective observational study 118 patients admitted on 1-4 day after severe TBI (GCS <8 points on admission) was supervised. The average age of patients was 32 +/- 16 years, 28 women and 90 men were in this group. 12 of the observed patients died within the first 10 days. NT-proBNP level was determined by immunochemiluminescent analyzer "Immulite 2000" (Siemens). Blood sampling was performed daily at 8:00 am during the acute period--an average for 7 days (5 to 10) from the date of admission. At the same time hemodynamic status was assessed by PiCCO. It has been shown that NT-proBNP level may be not only a marker of severity of condition and poor outcome in patients with severe TBI, but also can be used as a good predictor of exhaustion of compensatory myocardial capacity in these patients.