N-Terminal Pro Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Assessment of Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Non ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: N-Terminal pro Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-pro BNP) is an important biomarker in the management of patients with heart failure. Several studies reported its importance as a predictor of morbidity and mortality in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients. Aim: To compare serum NT-proBNP levels in Non ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome (NSTE-ACS) patients and controls and to assess the relation between Nt-proBNP and the severity of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in patients with NSTE-ACS including unstable Angina (UA) and Non ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI). Materials and Methods: Sixty NSTE-ACS patients and 20 matched control without significant obstructive CAD were included in the study. Cardiac enzymes, blood urea, serum creatinine, serum NT-proBNP were measured in all patients immediately before coronary angiography. Gensini score and Syntax score were calculated for all study patients. The NSTE-ACS patients were followed-up for six months for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) including mortality, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, revascularisation by primary percutaneous coronary intervention or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). Results: The mean serum NT-proBNP in NSTE-ACS (UA and NSTEMI) patients was significantly higher (662.7±635.2) pg/mL than that in the control (102.3±96.4) pg/mL, p<0.001. The effective cut-off value for the diagnosis of CAD was 139 pg/mL, Area Under Curve (AUC)=0.950, 95% CI: 0.890-1.00). The serum NT-proBNP was correlated with the severity and complexity of CAD as measured by Gensini score (r=0.496, p<0.001) and Syntax score (r=0.443, p<0.001). The mean value of NT-proBNP in patients with six months MACE was insignificantly higher than in patients without six months MACE with Interquartile Range (IQR) of 418.5 (139-2037) vs. 366 (175-3237) pg/mL, p=0.970. Conclusion: NT-proBNP was correlated with the severity and complexity of CAD in NSTE-ACS with preserved left ventricular systolic function, but it has no impact on six months MACE.