Higher Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels Research Articles

The Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Patients with Severe Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension: A Prospective Study from a Single Referral Center.

Background and Objectives. COVID-19 infection has a significant burden on global morbidity and mortality, especially in elderly people and in patients with chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, such as pulmonary hypertension (PH). We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 infection on patients diagnosed with severe chronic PH. Materials and Methods. A single-center prospective cohort study was performed. Patients were enrolled from 1 November 2020 to 31 December 2022. Follow-up was until 31 December 2023. Data were collected on PH diagnosis, clinical presentation, outcomes, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, pulmonary function test with lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) analysis. Results. During the 26 months of our study, 51 PH patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. The majority, 44 (86.3%) of all COVID-19 infected patients, were treated on an outpatient basis, and 7 (13.7%) required hospitalization. During the follow-up period, 8 (15.7%) patients died: 4 (7.8%) due to complications of COVID-19 infection, and the other 4 (7.8%) died in the later stages of the follow-up period after recovery from acute COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the in-hospital mortality in our study was 43% (n = 3). As mentioned above, the overall mortality was 7.8% (n = 4). Higher BNP levels in the third month after COVID-19 were associated with higher mortality rates (p = 0.028). Lung function, including DLCO, did not significantly worsen with COVID-19. In our study, 24 patients (47.1%) were referred for a follow-up CTPA scan and one of them developed typical fibrotic lung changes after COVID-19. Conclusions. The incidence of COVID-19 infection in patients diagnosed with PH was 34%. In our patients with severe chronic PH, the overall mortality rate due to COVID-19 infection was low. Pulmonary fibrosis was a rare complication in our cohort. COVID-19 infection in severe PH may increase the risk of worsening chronic heart failure.

High brain natriuretic peptide levels are associated with vulnerable plaque in cervical carotid artery

High brain natriuretic peptide levels are associated with vulnerable plaque in cervical carotid artery

High brain natriuretic peptide level is associated with severe stroke in patients taking oral anticoagulants: A sub-analysis of the PASTA registry study

BackgroundBrain natriuretic peptides (BNP) are an important diagnostic and prognostic marker in patients with heart failure. However, the relationship between BNP levels and stroke severity in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unelucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between stroke severity at admission and BNP levels. MethodsIn this prospective observational study, we used data from 513 patients with AF and acute ischemic stroke treated with oral anticoagulants (OAC) registered in the Multicenter Prospective Analysis of Stroke Patients Taking Oral Anticoagulants study. The patients were divided into two groups: high-BNP (≥200 pg/mL) and low-BNP level (<200 pg/mL) groups. We compared the clinical characteristics between the two groups and determined the effect of BNP levels on stroke severity on admission. ResultsAmong the 513 enrolled patients, 248 (females, n = 30; median age, 82 years) and 265 (females, n = 76; median age, 71 years) were assigned to the high- and low-BNP level groups, respectively. The high-BNP level group had a higher proportion of patients with severe stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, ≥10) on admission (49.2% vs. 32.8%, p = 0.002) and major vessel occlusion (57.5% vs. 39.2%, p < 0.0001) than that had by the low-BNP level group. Multivariate analysis showed that high BNP level was independently associated with severe stroke on admission (odds ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval 1.00–1.15; p = 0.0478). ConclusionsHigh BNP level compared with low BNP level was associated with severe stroke and major vessel occlusion, even before OAC treatment.

Clinical Utility of Baseline Brain Natriuretic Peptide Levels on Health Status Outcomes after Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Individuals without Heart Failure.

Catheter ablation (CA) benefits atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with heart failure (HF). Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a marker of left-ventricular pressure load, may serve as a potential surrogate for predicting quality of life (QOL) in a broader range of patients. Within the multicenter KiCS-AF registry, 491 AF patients underwent CA without clinical HF (e.g., documented history of HF, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%, or BNP levels ≥ 100 pg/mL). Participants, aged 61 ± 10 years, were categorized by baseline BNP quartiles. Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-Life (AFEQT) questionnaire assessments were assessed at baseline and 1 year. A lower baseline BNP correlated with reduced AFEQT scores. Post CA, all groups showed significant AFEQT score improvements. The lower-BNP group displayed notable enhancements (18.2 ± 1.2, 15.0 ± 1.1, 12.6 ± 1.2, 13.6 ± 1.2, p < 0.005), especially in symptom and treatment concern areas. Even those with normal BNP levels (≤18.4 pg/mL) exhibited significant QOL improvements. Comparing paroxysmal AF (PAF) and non-PAF groups, the PAF group, especially with higher BNP levels, showed greater AFEQT score improvements. This study establishes BNP as a predictive marker for QOL enhancement in non-HF patients undergoing CA for AF. BNP levels represent AF stages, with individuals in earlier stages, especially within normal BNP levels, experiencing greater QOL improvements.

The effect of type of anesthesia (general versus spinal) on postoperative levels of brain natriuretic peptide in parturient women with cardiovascular diseases undergoing cesarean section and related cardiac impacts

ABSTRACT Background Dealing with parturient women with cardiac disease is still a challenge for anesthesiologists due to the presence of physiologic burden of pregnancy in addition to the already existing compromised cardiovascular system. A variety of cardiac indices have been utilized to forecast the risk of perioperative cardiac complications, yet limitations in their predictive value exist. Perioperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level is used as a prognosticator of cardiac complications following surgery in cardiac and non-cardiac individuals. Aim of study To compare the effect of general and spinal anesthesia during cesarean section in parturient with cardiac disease on BNP levels and on predicting adverse cardiac events. Methods Thirty cardiac parturient with cesarean section were assigned randomly into two groups of equal size. Group A: participants received general anesthesia (GA); Group B: participants received spinal anesthesia. Preoperative and 2 and 24 h postoperative BNP levels were measured. Intraoperative and 24 h postoperative cardiac complications were observed. Results Preoperative and 2 and 24 h postoperative BNP mean levels were similar in the two groups. In each group, the 2 and 24 h postoperative rise in BNP mean levels was insignificant compared to the preoperative mean levels of BNP. Incidence of complications was comparable in both groups, but it was associated with the already high preoperative levels of BNP. Conclusions The study concludes that safely conducted certain type of anesthesia has no effect on the perioperative BNP levels nor incidence of complications which is associated with the already high preoperative BNP levels.

Kord Kanı ve Yenidoğan Plazma Beyin Natriüretik Peptid Düzeyleri ile Doğum Şekli Arasındaki İlişki

Fetal-to-neonatal adaptation involves many complex mechanisms. Cardiovascular biomarkers may help to understand fetal and maternal physiology in pregnancy and during the perinatal transition period. In this present study, our aim was to assess the association between delivery type and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in healthy full-term neonates. Forty-eight neonates born by vaginal delivery (n=25) and cesarean section (n=23) were included in the study. Plasma BNP levels were measured at cord blood samples. In addition antropometric measurements and physical examination were evaluated at first day of life. BNP levels measure and clinical evaluation were repeated 3 days later after birth. The median cord and infant BNP levels were similar in vaginal and cesarean delivery. There was no difference between the median cord and infant BNP levels in vaginal deliveries [54.0 pg/ml (q1-q3: 40.0-111.5) and 66.0 pg/ml (q1-q3: 43.0-90.0) respectively, p=0.619]. However, the median infant BNP level was statistically significantly higher than the median cord BNP level [56.0 pg/ml (q1-q3: 39.0-84.0) and 75.0 pg/ml (q1-q3: 54.0-145.0), p=0.027] in cesarean deliveries. Uncomplicated vaginal deliveries were not associated with high BNP levels and thus fetal cardiac distress. Increased levels of BNP levels on the 3rd day in elective cesarean deliveries may be predictive of delayed postnatal pulmonary and cardiac adaptation.

BNP level predicts bleeding event in patients with heart failure after percutaneous coronary intervention

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the association between heart failure (HF) severity measured based on brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and future bleeding events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).BackgroundThe Academic...

Predictors of outcome in a contemporary cardiac sarcoidosis population: Role of brain natriuretic peptide, left ventricular function and myocardial inflammation.

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a potentially fatal condition that varies in its clinical presentation. Here, we describe baseline characteristics at presentation along with prognosis and predictors of outcome in a sizable and deeply phenotyped contemporary cohort of CS patients. Consecutive CS patients seen at one institution were retrospectively enrolled after undergoing laboratory testing, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and 18 F-flourodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) at baseline. The composite endpoint consisted of all-cause mortality, aborted sudden cardiac death, major ventricular arrhythmic events, heart failure hospitalization and heart transplantation. A total of 319 CS patients were studied (67% male, 55.4 ± 12 years). During a median follow-up of 2.2 years (range: 1 month-11 years), 8% of patients died, while 33% reached the composite endpoint. The annualized mortality rate was 2.7% and the 5- and 10-year mortality rates were 6.2% and 7.5%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (hazard ratio [HR] 2.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-4.31, p = 0.003), CMR left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.98, p < 0.0001) and maximum standardized uptake value of FDG-PET (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.19, p = 0.001) to be independent predictors of outcome. These findings remained robust for different patient subgroups. Cardiac sarcoidosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in those with cardiac involvement as the first manifestation. Higher BNP levels, lower LVEF and more active myocardial inflammation were independent predictors of outcomes.

Impact of Cardiac Power Output on Exercise Capacity and Clinical Outcome in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure

Less data are available regarding the impact of cardiac power output on exercise capacity or clinical outcome in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The study enrolled 280 consecutive patients with CHF referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing and right-sided heart catheterization between 2013 and 2018. The primary outcome was composite of heart failure hospitalization or death. Cardiac power output was calculated as (mean arterial pressure×CO) ÷ 451. Patients with low cardiac power output (<0.53W, n=99) were older and had a higher brain natriuretic peptide level than patients with high cardiac power output (≥0.53W, n=181). Cardiac power output was correlated with peak oxygen consumption (peak V̇O2), peak workload achievement, and ventilatory efficiency (V̇E/V̇CO2 slope) in cardiopulmonary exercise testing, whereas each of cardiac output or mean arterial pressure was not. There were 48 patients with events over a median follow-up period of 3.5 (interquartile range 1.0 to 6.0) years. Patients with low cardiac power output had about a 2-fold higher risk of events than those with a high cardiac power output (hazard ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.12 to 3.48). In the multivariable Cox regression, a 0.1-W decrease in cardiac power output was associated with 19% increased adverse events (hazard ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.67 to 0.99). In conclusion, cardiac power output was associated with reduced exercise capacity and poor clinical outcome, suggesting that cardiac power output is useful for risk stratification in patients with CHF. Further study is required to identify therapies targeting cardiac power output to improve the exercise capacity or clinical outcome in patients with CHF.

Clinical characteristics for distinguishing between acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema and community-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients: a prospective observational study.

Heart failure and pneumonia are highly prevalent in elderly patients. We conducted a study to evaluate the differences in the patterns of symptoms, laboratory findings, and computed tomography (CT) results in elderly patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017, we studied 140 patients aged >75 years who were diagnosed with ACPE and CAP. Symptoms, laboratory findings, mean ostial pulmonary vein (PV) diameter and patterns on CT images were assessed. The primary measures of diagnostic accuracy were assessed using the positive likelihood ratio (LR+). The cutoff value of ostial PVs for differentiating patients with ACPE from CAP was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Ninety-three patients with ACPE, 36 with CAP, and 11 with complicated ACPE/CAP were included. In patients with ACPE, edema (LR+ 5.4) was a moderate factor for rule-in, and a high brain natriuretic peptide level (LR+ 4.2) was weak. In patients with CAP, cough (LR+ 5.7) and leukocytosis (LR+ 5.2) were moderate factors for rule-in, while fever (LR+ 3.8) and a high C-reactive protein level (LR+ 4.8) were weak factors. The mean diameter of ostial PVs in patients with ACPE was significantly larger than that of patients with CAP (15.8± 1.8 mm vs 9.6±1.5 mm, p< 0.01). ROC analysis revealed that an ostial PV diameter cutoff of 12.5 mm was strong evidence for distinguishing ACPE from CAP with an area under the ROC curve of 0.99 and LR+ 36.0. In conclusion, as ACPE and CAP have similar symptoms and laboratory findings, dilated ostial PVs were useful in characterizing CT images to distinguish ACPE from CAP.

Ninety-day mortality of extremely elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery and its association with preoperative cardiac function: a single-center retrospective study.

We investigated the 90-day mortality rate in elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery and the association of preoperative cardiac function with mortality. We retrospectively enrolled 133 consecutive patients aged 80years or older who underwent hip fracture surgery. We obtained information for patient sex, age, comorbidities, medications, anesthesia method, left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions assessed by echocardiography, and preoperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. The 90-day mortality rate in patients with a mean age of 88.9years was 7.5% (10/133). More than half of the patients had diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle. There were no significant differences in preoperative cardiac systolic and diastolic functions between the mortality group and non-mortality group. The preoperative BNP level in the mortality group was significantly higher than that in the non-mortality group (p = 0.038). Preoperative BNP level was not an independent risk factor for 90-day mortality (p = 0.081) in the primary multivariate logistic regression analysis but was an independent risk factor (p = 0.039) with an odds ratio of 1.004 (95% CI 1.000-1.008) in the sensitivity analysis with different explanatory variables. The 90-day mortality rate in patients over 80years old after hip fracture surgery was 7.5%. There were no significant differences in preoperative cardiac function assessed by echocardiography between the mortality and non-mortality groups. Our results suggest that there is no association or only a weak association of high BNP level with 90-day mortality in this age population.

Brain natriuretic peptide as a clinical screening tool for the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been studied as a diagnostic screening tool for Kawasaki disease (KD). However, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been less studied while has less variability among age groups. We aimed to find out if BNP can be used as a diagnostic screening tool for KD in Korea. This was a retrospective cohort study performed in a single pediatric emergency department. Patients younger than 19 years of age who presented with fever and underwent BNP examination for suspected KD was included. The primary outcome was the diagnostic performance of BNP for KD, and the secondary outcome was the diagnostic performance of BNP for coronary artery aneurysm (CAA). We also derived a scoring system for predicting KD and CAA. Of the 778 patients who were finally included, 400 were not diagnosed with KD and 378 were diagnosed with KD. The odds ratio of BNP at the cutoff of 30 pg/mL for KD was 7.80 (95% CI, 5.67-10.73) in the univariate analysis and 3.62 (95% CI, 2.33-5.88) in the multivariable analysis. The odds ratio of BNP at the cutoff of 270 pg/mL for CAA was 3.67 (95% CI, 2.18-6.19) in the univariate analysis and 2.37 (95% CI, 1.16-8.74) in the multivariable analysis. The AUC of KD and CAA were 0.884 and 0.726, respectively, which was the highest AUCs among all variables. Additionally, we proposed a scoring system for KD and CAA. It is important to clinically suspect KD and CAA in children with high BNP levels.

Prognostic value of brain natriuretic peptide in ST-elevation myocardial infarction

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Prognostic value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in STEMI is not yet fully stablished despite many studies demonstrating its potential in providing additional information. Purpose Evaluation of prognostic impact of BNP in coronary anatomy complexity and outcomes in the context of STEMI. Methods Retrospective analysis of patients admitted with STEMI in a multicentric registry between 2010-19. Patients were divided into 3 groups regarding BNP: &amp;lt;100pg/ml in Group 1 (39%P); 100≤ BNP &amp;lt;400pg/ml in Group 2 (39.5%); and BNP ≥400pg/ml in Group 3 (21.5%). Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared and outcomes evaluated. A Cox multivariate regression was performed to evaluate predictor factors of stablished endpoints. Survival was evaluated through Kaplan-Meier curve. Results 1650 patients were reviewed. Group 1 was younger (58±11 vs 66±13 vs 72±12 years, p&amp;lt;0.001). Mostly male (75.4%, p&amp;lt;0.001). Patients with heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) presented higher BNP: the prevalence of HF and CKD was 0.5 and 1.3% in Group 1; 1.8 and 2.5% in Group 2; 5.9 and 7.8% in Group 3 (p&amp;lt;0.001). Mean BNP at admission was 43±26 in Group 1; 208±81 in Group 2; 1105±1073pg/ml in Group 3 (p&amp;lt;0.001). Group 3 presented lower mean left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF): 58±11 vs 53±12 vs 44±13% (p&amp;lt;0.001). All patients were submitted to coronary angiography: the anterior descendent was the artery most frequently involved (57.4 vs 66.9 vs 80.3%, p&amp;lt;0.001). The involvement of &amp;gt;1 coronary artery was more frequent in Group 3 (34.4 vs 44.5 vs 51.3%, p&amp;lt;0.001). Acute HF (6.5 vs 16.7 vs 45.4%, p&amp;lt;0.001); cardiogenic shock (3.3 vs 5.1 vs 16.9%, p&amp;lt;0.001), atrial fibrillation (3.0 vs 6.4 vs 16.9%, p&amp;lt;0.001), stroke (0.5 vs 0.6 vs 2%, p 0.032), sustained ventricular tachycardia (1.6 vs 3.7 vs 6.8, p&amp;lt;0.001) and mortality (1.2 vs 2.6 vs 8.5%, p 0.017) were more prevalent in Group 3. Kaplan-Meier curve confirmed that higher BNP was associated with higher rates of 1-year mortality (p&amp;lt;0.001) and cardiovascular and all-cause rehospitalization (p 0.005 and 0.002). Presence of peripheral arterial disease or cancer, Killip Kimball class &amp;gt;I, LVEF &amp;lt;50% and occurrence of mechanical complications were predictor factors. Conclusions In context of STEMI, higher BNP levels were associated with more complex coronary anatomy and higher in-hospital and 1-year morbimortality.

Incidence and predictors of postoperative acute kidney injury in older adults with hip fractures

ObjectivesMain Purpose: To clarify the incidence and predictors of acute kidney injury (AKI) after hip fracture surgery; Secondary Purpose: To investigate the impact of AKI on the length of stay (LOS) and mortality of patients. MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated data from 644 hip fracture patients at Peking University First Hospital from 2015 to 2021, and divided the patients into AKI and Non-AKI groups according to whether AKI occurred after surgery. Logistic regression was used to clarify the risk factors for AKI, draw ROC curves, and analyze the odds ratio (OR) for LOS and death at 30 days, 3 months, and 1 year for patients with AKI. ResultsThe prevalence of AKI after hip fracture was 12.1%. Age, BMI, and postoperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were risk factors for AKI after hip fracture surgery. The risk of AKI in underweight patients, overweight patients and obese patients was 2.24, 1.89, and 2.58 times. Compared to patients with BNP levels <800 pg/ml, the risk of AKI was 22.34-fold for postoperative BNP levels>1500 pg/ml. The risk of a one-grade increase in LOS was 2.84 times higher in the AKI group and the mortality of patients with AKI were higher. ConclusionThe incidence of AKI after hip fracture surgery was 12.1%. Advanced age, low BMI, and postoperative high level BNP were risk factors for AKI. Surgeons need to pay more attention to patients with older age, low BMI and high postoperative BNP levels in order to proactively prevent the development of postoperative AKI.

Association of non-sustained atrial tachycardia and its duration in 24-h Holter monitoring with embolic stroke of unknown source.

Although supraventricular ectopic beats (SVE), including premature atrial contractions (PACs) and non-sustained atrial tachycardia (NSAT), are frequent in the general population, some study results indicate that they are pathologic. SVE may predict undiagnosed atrial fibrillation or be associated with the embolic pattern of ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to identify the indicators most associated with embolic stroke among the parameters that suggest the burden of SVE. A total of 1920 consecutive acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients were enrolled from two university hospitals. We defined embolic stroke of unknown source (ESUS) and small vessel occlusion (SVO) etiologies using stricter criteria than the existing conventional criteria. We enrolled 426 (SVO: 310 vs. ESUS: 116) patients who met the inclusion criteria. In the 24-h Holter monitoring parameters, total number of PACs and PAC-to-total beat ratio were not significantly different between the two groups. However, NSATs were more frequent, and the duration of the longest NSAT was longer in the ESUS group. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that high brain natriuretic peptide levels, presence of NSAT, history of previous stroke, and the longest NSAT duration significantly correlated with the ESUS etiology. The presence of NSAT and its duration are more important indicators of embolic stroke than the frequency of PACs is. Therefore, considering secondary prevention in AIS patients with ESUS, 24-h Holter monitoring parameters, such as the presence of NSAT and its duration, could be considered as potential sources of cardio-embolism.

Factors Associated with Impaired Resistive Reserve Ratio and Microvascular Resistance Reserve

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is described as an important subset of ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease. Resistive reserve ratio (RRR) and microvascular resistance reserve (MRR) have been proposed as novel physiological indices evaluating coronary microvascular dilation function. The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with impaired RRR and MRR. Coronary physiological indices were invasively evaluated in the left anterior descending coronary artery using the thermodilution method in patients suspected of CMD. CMD was defined as a coronary flow reserve <2.0 and/or index of microcirculatory resistance ≥25. Of 117 patients, 26 (24.1%) had CMD. RRR (3.1 ± 1.9 vs. 6.2 ± 3.2, p < 0.001) and MRR (3.4 ± 1.9 vs. 6.9 ± 3.5, p < 0.001) were lower in the CMD group. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, RRR (area under the curve 0.84, p < 0.001) and MRR (area under the curve 0.85, p < 0.001) were both predictive of the presence of CMD. In the multivariable analysis, previous myocardial infarction, lower hemoglobin, higher brain natriuretic peptide levels, and intracoronary nicorandil were identified as factors associated with lower RRR and MRR. In conclusion, the presence of previous myocardial infarction, anemia, and heart failure was associated with impaired coronary microvascular dilation function. RRR and MRR may be useful to identify patients with CMD.

PS-R04-2: A CASE OF SUCCESSFUL PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL RENAL ANGIOPLASTY (PTRA) FOR RENAL ARTERY STENOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH TAKAYASU'S ARTERITIS

Introduction: In Japan, renal vascular hypertension based on renal artery stenosis (RAS) accounts for 1% of all hypertensive patients, and RAS is present in approximately 10% of autopsy cases of coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease. As ischemic nephropathy and complications of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to RAS are common, early diagnosis and treatment for RAS is important. However, results of several large clinical trials have not shown the efficacy of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) for atherosclerotic RAS. Case: 51-year-old woman who diagnosed as Takayasu's arteritis (TA) 35 years ago, had been treated with 5 mg daily of prednisone. She presented with hypertension and edema in both legs a year before admission. Her examination at that time revealed increased serum creatinine from 1.0 to 1.7 mg/dL, high proteinuria (7.3 g/gCr), high renin activity (47.0 ng/mL/hr) and right RAS. Eight months before admission, she had an operation for ruptured descending aorta. She had recurrent episodes of dyspnea on exertion, worsening leg edema and severe hypertension and was admitted to the hospital for the treatment. Clinical course: In addition to severe hypertension (190/80 mmHg) and progression of RAS, she had pulmonary congestion, high brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level (1149.5 pg/mL), increasing creatinine levels (Cr 3.1 mg/dL), and left non-functioning kidney on admission. Despite taking 8 types of antihypertensive drugs and diuretics without renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, blood pressure and fluid retention were poorly controlled, and thus we decided to perform PTRA for the right RAS. After the PTRA, edema, hypertension and pleural effusion had been dramatically improved. In addition, we could observe decrease of serum creatinine (Cr 1.6 mg/dL), proteinuria (0.5 g/gCr) and plasma renin activity (1.9 ng/mL/hr). Therefore, we reduced the antihypertensive drugs from 8 to 2. Discussions: Although the benefit of PTRA for RAS associated with TA remains unclear, the clinical course suggests that the success of PTRA in this case may be related to the fact that the RAS was complicated by TA. It also suggests that we should consider PTRA in cases of hypertension and pulmonary congestion associated with RAS which are difficult to control like this case. Conclusion: We have experienced a case of RAS associated with TA that was successfully treated with PTRA.

Brain natriuretic peptide levels and short physical performance battery scores independently influence short-term readmission rates in older patients with heart failure.

The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is a well-established tool to assess the lower extremity physical performance status. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and SPPB scores on short-term readmission in older patients with heart failure (HF). This prospective cohort study enrolled 325 patients with HF who were hospitalized for acute decompensated HF between November 2017 and December 2021. Variables were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards model, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and Kaplan-Meier analysis. The 107 patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into readmission (within 90days of discharge; n = 25) and non-readmission (n = 82) groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that BNP level and SPPB score were independent risk factors for readmission within 90days after discharge. Patients were classified into three groups according to the BNP and SPPB cutoff values calculated using ROC curves. The risk of readmission was significantly higher in Group 3 (BNP ≥ 384pg/mL and SPPB ≤ 7 points) than in Group 1 (BNP < 384pg/mL and SPPB > 7 points; hazard ratio: 27.68, 95% confidence interval: 3.672 - 208.700, P = 0.0012). Our study showed that HF patients with high BNP levels and low SPPB scores have a dramatically increased risk of readmission within 90days of discharge.

Prognostic Value of the FAN Score, a Combination of the Fibrosis-4 Index, Albumin-Bilirubin Score and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio, in Patients Hospitalized with Heart Failure.

The fibrosis-4 index, albumin-bilirubin score and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio are all prognostic markers in patients with heart failure. Recently, the FAN score, which includes all 3 of these markers, was developed as a useful risk stratification tool in patients with cancer. However, its cut-off values have not been validated for heart failure. We aimed to investigate the optimal cut-off and prognostic values of the FAN score in patients with heart failure. We analyzed 669 consecutive patients hospitalized with heart failure (age, 75.8 ± 11.3 years). Their median values of the fibrosis-4 index, albumin-bilirubin score, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio at discharge were 2.12, -2.25, and 2.41, respectively. The FAN score for heart failure (HF-FAN score) was calculated using these median values. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death and heart failure rehospitalization. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to HF-FAN scores of 0 (n = 112), 1 (n = 231), 2 (n = 242) and 3 (n = 84). Patients with HF-FAN scores of 3 were older, had higher brain natriuretic peptide levels, and larger inferior vena cava diameters. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a direct correlation between higher HF-FAN scores and occurrence of the primary endpoint (log-rank P < 0.001). Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed a higher HF-FAN score was significantly associated with a worse prognosis even after adjustment for possible prognostic factors. Changing from the FAN score to HF-FAN score provided significant continuous net reclassification improvement. In conclusion, the HF-FAN score at discharge was useful for risk stratification in patients hospitalized with heart failure. The HF-FAN score might be more suitable for patients with heart failure than the FAN score.

Abstract 14691: Sex Differences in the Prognostic Value of N-Terminal Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) causes right heart failure (HF) and mainly affects females, but males have worse survival. Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) and Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), along with N-terminal BNP (NTproBNP), are secreted from cardiomyocytes upon stretch and are important biomarkers in HF. Sex differences are observed in NTproBNP levels and prognostic value in left HF, but unknown in right HF. The aim was to assess sex differences in NTproBNP levels and prognostic value in PAH from a translational perspective. Methods: We screened patients with baseline NTproBNP measurements and right heart catheterization between 2002 and 2020. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from 1 male and 1 female PAH-patients were differentiated into cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs), and stretched for 24h at 1Hz and 10% on the Flexcell FX-6000 system (N=2). Gene expression analyses were performed on static and stretched samples. Results: 266 patients (N=106 male, N=166 female) were included. Median baseline NTproBNP levels were similar in male and female patients (1118 vs 832 ng/ml, P=0.58). We risk stratified patients on NTproBNP according to the guidelines and assessed differences in 1-year survival. In males highest 1-year mortality was observed in low and low-intermediate risk groups (16,4% and 7.7%, respectively) vs females (4.7% and 4.2%, respectively) (Figure1 A,B). Preliminary results indicate ~2x higher BNP mRNA expressions on male vs female patients (0.80 vs 0.37, N=3 male and N=3 female, P=0.018), after mechanical stretch (Figure1 C). Conclusions: Although no sex differences were observed in NTproBNP plasma levels, it had different prognostic value in male and female patients. Furthermore, in vitro male iPSC-CMs had higher BNP levels after stretch compared to female iPSC-CMs.