Plasma BNP level measured 3 to 4 weeks after acute myocardial infarction was an independent predictor of cardiac death, with significantly higher survival in patients with BNP <180 pg/mL.
Cohort (n=145)
Does plasma BNP level measured 3 to 4 weeks after onset predict cardiac death in patients with acute myocardial infarction?
Plasma BNP levels measured 3 to 4 weeks after an acute myocardial infarction serve as an independent predictor of long-term cardiac death.
BACKGROUND: Circulating levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), a cardiac hormone, reflect the severity of cardiac dysfunction. Because the plasma BNP level changes dramatically during the period after the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), identification of a suitable sampling time is problematic. There have been several reports indicating that the plasma BNP level obtained in the acute phase of AMI can be used as a prognostic marker. We examined whether the plasma BNP level measured 3 to 4 weeks after the onset of AMI represents a reliable prognostic marker for patients with AMI. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed 145 consecutive patients with AMI. Plasma BNP levels were measured during the 3 to 4 weeks after onset of AMI. Of those patients, 23 experienced fatal cardiac events during this study. The mean follow-up period was 58.6 months. Log BNP, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, and pulmonary vascular resistance were all significantly higher in the cardiac death group, and there were more men and more patients with a history of heart failure in the cardiac death group. A Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that log BNP was an independent predictor of cardiac death. The survival rate was significantly higher in patients with log BNP or =2.26. CONCLUSIONS: The plasma BNP level obtained 3 to 4 weeks after the onset of AMI can be used as an independent predictor of cardiac death in patients with AMI.
Suzuki et al. (2004) conducted a cohort in Acute Myocardial Infarction (n=145). Plasma BNP level measurement vs. Log BNP <2.26 (180 pg/mL) vs ≥2.26 was evaluated on Cardiac death. Plasma BNP level measured 3 to 4 weeks after acute myocardial infarction was an independent predictor of cardiac death, with significantly higher survival in patients with BNP <180 pg/mL.