N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) increases in patients with heart failure and renal failure. Hemodialysis is a useful treatment to these patients. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic and meta-analysis to evaluate the influence of hemodialysis on NT-pro BNP concentration.

Relevant studies were identified by searching in PubMed, Medline, Embase, OVID, Web of Science, China Biology Medicine (CBM) and Google Scholar. Standard errors of mean difference along with its 95% CI were calculated to assess the association of hemodialysis and NT-pro BNP concentration. Heterogeneity, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and publication bias were explored.

Individual patient data was obtained from 270 participants in seven articles suffered from chronic renal failure with regular hemodialysis, which was standard normal distribution. A fixed effects model suggested a pooled mean difference of 79.265 (95% CI: −331.172–489.702) without heterogeneity (Q = 0.70 df = 6 p = 0.994 I² = 0.0%). The adults group estimated a MD of 209.958 (95% CI: −3080.76–3500.67; p = 0.900) with no heterogeneity (Q = 0.70 df = 4 p = 0.983 I² = 0.0%). In the four articles whose data were not standard normal distribution, hemodiafiltration protocols were similar; three articles reported increasing and one decreasing in NT-proBNP concentration.

Finding of this systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that NT-pro BNP may not been influenced by hemodialysis, and it could not been used to determine if heart failure is improving in patients with renal failure who are treated with hemodialysis.