Editorial

Abstract

Aims. We investigated whether levels of N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide (N-terminal proANP) reflect the severity of coronary artery disease in chronic, stable angina pectoris. Furthermore, we investigated if revascularization by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) affected the N-terminal proANP level and, finally, whether restenosis could be predicted by changes in N-terminal proANP after PTCA.Methods and results. N-terminal proANP was measured in 286 patients before and after PTCA. The patients' baseline level of N-terminal proANP (787±403 pmol/l) correlated significantly with left ventricular end diastolic pressure, age and serum creatinine, but not with the number of stenotic vessels. Twenty-four hours post-PTCA N-terminal proANP decreased significantly, and completely revascularized patients demonstrated a decline two-fold larger than those incompletely revascularized (ΔN-terminal proANP −114±178 vs. −53±231 pmol/l, P<0.05). After 14 days N-terminal proANP had returned to baseline in both groups. Changes in N-terminal proANP from post-PTCA to the final follow-up was not predictive of angiographic restenosis.Interpretation. The significant decrease in N-terminal proANP observed after angioplasty, most pronounced in patients completely revascularized, is thought to reflect a transient improvement in resting left ventricular function.