Can Admission BNP Level Predict Outcome After Intravenous Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke?

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to determine the prognostic value of elevated Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) among patients who received intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). BACKGROUND: The elevation in BNP level is correlated with infarct size, poststroke mortality, and CHADS2 score. Currently, there is a lack of validated biomarker to predict the outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and there is a complex interaction amongst multiple variables. DESIGN/METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of patients admitted to our institution with acute ischemic stroke was performed. The patients who received intravenous thrombolysis were selected for analysis and divided into 2 groups based on the level of BNP. We compared the baseline demographics, past medical history, stroke etiology, discharge disposition, and 3-month mRS between both groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of poor outcome following intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients were recruited in the study; 53 patients were found to have an elevated BNP (high BNP was defined as >100 pg/mL) level, whereas 37 had low BNP levels. Our study showed that patients with elevated BNP were more likely to have an elevation in admission and discharge NIHSS, serum creatinine, left atrial size, and blood glucose (P<0.05). Atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic strokes were seen most often in the population with elevated BNP (P<0.05). The patients with elevated BNP were less likely to be discharged home, and 3-month mRS was found to be higher, but these were not significant. On multivariate analysis, elevated BNP was not found to be an independent factor for poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated BNP level was not found to be an independent marker of poor outcome in AIS patients following IVT.