Elevation Of B-type Natriuretic Peptide Levels Research Articles

Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest increases the plasma level of B-type natriuretic peptide

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) regulate blood pressure and fluid homeostasis and exert various effects on the cardiovascular system. Recently, the relationship between NPs and the energy metabolism has been reported, and using a cell culture experiment system, we previously showed that NP activated brown cells in a low temperature environment while also suppressing a decrease in the cell temperature. However, few reports have described the secretion of NPs in cold environments, and there have been almost no studies of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in humans. We investigated how NPs respond to cold environments in 21 patients who underwent therapeutic hypothermia (TH) after cardiac arrest. The plasma BNP levels were significantly increased (more than fivefold) during TH (logarithmically from 1.98 ± 0.79 to 2.63 ± 0.59, P < 0.01). During TH, diastolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) significantly decreased, and there were no significant changes in the stroke volume index (SVI). This increase of BNP was not associated with any hemodynamic changes. In contrast to our findings for BNP, the change in A-type NP (ANP) was quite small. We detected a significant increase in the plasma BNP levels during TH, unrelated to hemodynamics. This elevation of BNP levels seems to be potential influenced by hypothermia.

Prognostic Significance of B Type Natriuretic Peptide in Acute Coronary Syndrome

Acute Coronary syndrome (ACS) is the most common cause of admission to the coronary care unit with highest risk of death and adverse outcomes. ACS accounts for 60–70% of all admissions in the hospital. Patients with ACS encompass a heterogeneous group that varies widely regarding severity of the underlying coronary artery disease, prognosis and response to treatment. Patients with the highest risk of subsequent events usually have the largest benefit of an intensified pharmacological treatment and early mechanical intervention. The prognosis for low-risk patients, on the other hand, is often difficult to improve further and these patients usually benefit more from a conservative management with a lower risk of side effects. Therefore, risk stratification is essential and should be initiated early and updated continuously throughout the hospital stay. Early risk stratification is usually performed by the use of clinical background factors, clinical presentation, electrocardiography and biochemical markers of myocardial damage. Levels of natriuretic peptides have been shown to reflect cardiac performance. The aim of this study was to review elaborately on B type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and its prognostic value in patient with ACS. This review focuses on the emerging role of these peptides in the early risk stratification of ACS patients. Elevation of BNP levels in acute MI and UA is predictive of a greater risk of death, post infarction heart failure, or reinfarction. Post infarction studies demonstrate that elevated plasma BNP levels are associated with larger infarct size, increased probability of ventricular remodeling, lower ejection fraction, higher risk of heart failure, and increased mortality. This cardiac marker is a potent predictor of mortality in patients with all forms ACS. BNP measurements serve as an index of severity of the ischemic injury, as well as the degree of impairment in left ventricular function.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cmoshmcj.v13i2.21079

Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide level predicts kidney prognosis in patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease

As a cardiorenal syndrome, there is a dynamic interplay between the heart and the kidney. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the prognostic impact of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, a cardiac biomarker, on the long-term kidney prognosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. We prospectively enrolled 508 patients with CKD Stages 3, 4 and 5 not on dialysis, from a single nephrology department between 2004 and 2010. The exclusion criteria were over 90 years of age, malignancy, active infection, low cardiac ejection fraction and rapid progressive glomerulonephritis. Relationships between BNP and kidney end point [defined as doubling of baseline serum creatinine and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) requiring kidney replacement therapy] were measured using Cox models for case-mix and laboratory variables. The final analysis covered 485 participants with no loss to follow-up. The median follow-up period was 3.2 years. Two hundred and twenty-eight of the 485 patients reached ESKD requiring dialysis, and baseline serum creatinine levels doubled in another 31. The kidney end point was significantly poorer among patients with plasma BNP levels above, compared with below a cut-off value of 86.1 pg/mL indicated from receiver operating characteristic analysis. Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified the common logarithm BNP as a predictor of kidney end point (adjusted hazard ratio 1.78, 95% CI: 1.28-2.46, P < 0.01). Elevation of BNP level is associated with an increased risk for accelerated progression of CKD ultimately to ESKD. Monitoring the BNP level could be helpful in the management of combined heart and kidney disease.