N-terminal Fragment Of proBNP Research Articles

A new biomarker of cardiac resynchronization therapy response: cGMP to mature BNP ratio

BackgroundBiomarkers that can predict cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) response have not yet been identified. The purpose of this study was to assess whether individual measurements of four brain/B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) forms, coupled with cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) might contribute to the prediction of echocardiographic CRT responders. MethodsA BNP precursor (proBNP) and total BNP (= proBNP + mature BNP) were measured with newly developed kits, while an N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) and cGMP were measured with commercial kits on the day before CRT implantation. Estimated mature BNP (emBNP = total BNP–proBNP), and the ratio of cGMP to each BNP form, as well as the concentrations of three other BNP forms, were prospectively investigated for their capability in predicting a response to CRT. A CRT responder was defined as an improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction >10% and/or a reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume >15% at 6-month follow-up. ResultsOut of 77 patients, 46 (60%) were categorized as CRT responders. Among the measurement parameters, only the highest quartile of the cGMP to emBNP ratio was an independent predictor of CRT responders (odds ratio 4.87, 95% confidence interval 1.25-18.89, p = 0.02). The cGMP to emBNP ratio was associated with the cumulative events of heart failure hospitalization within one year following CRT implantation (log-rank p = 0.029). ConclusionsThe cGMP to emBNP ratio could be utilized as a predictive biomarker of CRT responders. (Clinical Study on Responder Prediction in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Using Individual Molecular Measurement of Natriuretic Peptide: UMIN R000038927).

Effect of various weight loss interventions on serum NT-proBNP concentration in severe obese subjects without clinical manifest heart failure

Obesity is associated with a “natriuretic handicap” indicated by reduced N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) concentration. While gastric bypass surgery improves the natriuretic handicap, it is presently unclear if sleeve gastrectomy exhibits similar effects. We examined NT-proBNP serum concentration in n = 72 obese participants without heart failure before and 6 months after sleeve gastrectomy (n = 28), gastric bypass surgery (n = 19), and 3-month 800 kcal/day very-low calorie diet (n = 25). A significant weight loss was observed in all intervention groups. Within 6 months, NT-proBNP concentration tended to increase by a median of 44.3 pg/mL in the sleeve gastrectomy group (p = 0.07), while it remained unchanged in the other groups (all p ≥ 0.50). To gain insights into potential effectors, we additionally analyzed NT-proBNP serum concentration in n = 387 individuals with different metabolic phenotypes. Here, higher NT-proBNP levels were associated with lower nutritional fat and protein but not with carbohydrate intake. Of interest, NT-proBNP serum concentrations were inversely correlated with fasting glucose concentration in euglycemic individuals but not in individuals with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. In conclusion, sleeve gastrectomy tended to increase NT-proBNP levels in obese individuals and might improve the obesity-associated “natriuretic handicap”. Thereby, nutritional fat and protein intake and the individual glucose homeostasis might be metabolic determinants of NT-proBNP serum concentration.

Sex-Specific Associations Between Self-reported Sleep Duration, Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension, and Mortality in an Elderly Population.

Both short and long sleep durations have been associated to increased mortality. Knowledge about sex-specific differences among elderly regarding associations between sleep duration, cardiovascular health, and mortality is sparse. The aims of this study are to examine the association between self-reported sleep duration and mortality and to investigate whether this association is sex specific and/or moderated by cardiovascular morbidity, and also to explore potential mediators of sleep duration effects on mortality. A population-based, observational, cross-sectional design with 6-year follow-up with mortality as primary outcome was conducted. Self-rated sleep duration, clinical examinations, echocardiography, and blood samples (N-terminal fragment of proBNP) were collected. A total of 675 persons (50% women; mean age, 78 years) were divided into short sleepers (≤6 hours; n = 231), normal sleepers (7-8 hours; n = 338), and long sleepers (≥9 hours; n = 61). Data were subjected to principal component analyses. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension factors were extracted and used as moderators and as mediators in the regression analyses. During follow-up, 55 short sleepers (24%), 68 normal sleepers (20%), and 21 long sleepers (34%) died. Mediator analyses showed that long sleep was associated with mortality in men (hazard ratio [HR], 1.8; P = .049), independently of CVD and hypertension. In men with short sleep, CVD acted as a moderator of the association with mortality (HR, 4.1; P = .025). However, when using N-terminal fragment of proBNP, this effect became nonsignificant (HR, 3.1; P = .06). In woman, a trend to moderation involving the hypertension factor and short sleep was found (HR, 4.6; P = .09). Short and long sleep duration may be seen as risk markers, particularly among older men with cardiovascular morbidity.

Significance of NT-pro-BNP in acute exacerbation of COPD patients without underlying left ventricular dysfunction.

BackgroundB-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the N-terminal fragment of pro-BNP (NT-pro-BNP) are established biomarkers of heart failure. Increased levels of natriuretic peptide (NP) have been associated with poor outcomes in acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD); however, most studies did not address the conditions that can also increase NT-pro-BNP levels. We aimed to determine if NT-pro-BNP levels correlate with outcomes of AECOPD in patients without heart failure and other conditions that can affect NT-pro-BNP levels.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study in patients hospitalized for AECOPD with available NT-pro-BNP levels and normal left ventricular ejection fraction. We compared patients with normal and elevated NT-pro-BNP levels and analyzed the clinical and outcome data.ResultsA total of 167 of 1,420 (11.7%) patients met the study criteria. A total of 77% of male patients and 53% of female patients had elevated NT-pro-BNP levels (P=0.0031). NT-pro-BNP levels were not associated with COPD severity and comorbid illnesses. Log-transformed NT-pro-BNP levels were positively associated with echocardiographically estimated right ventricular systolic pressure (r=0.3658; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2060–0.5067; P<0.0001). Patients with elevated NT-pro-BNP levels were more likely to require intensive care (63% vs 43%; P=0.0207) and had a longer hospital length of stay (P=0.0052). There were no differences in the need for noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (P=0.1245) or mechanical ventilation (P=0.9824) or in regard to in-hospital mortality (P=0.5273).ConclusionPatients with AECOPD and elevated NT-pro-BNP levels had increased hospital length of stay and need for intensive care. Based on our study, serum NT-pro-BNP levels cannot be used as a biomarker for increased mortality or requirement for invasive or noninvasive ventilation in this group of patients.

SAT0316 Key Role of Cardiac Biomarkers in the Assessment of Systemic Sclerosis: Contribution of High Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin

BackgroundMicroangiopathy is a cardinal feature of systemic sclerosis (SSc), which plays a critical role in the development of primary myocardial involvement and pulmonary hypertension, two major causes of death in...

Cardiac biomarkers and risk assessment in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery: time to revise the guidelines?

Although the perioperative event rate has declined over the past 30 years, as a consequence of the developments in anesthesiology and surgical techniques, perioperative cardiovascular complications are still a significant clinical problem. At the end of the last century, a pooled analysis of several large studies found a 30-day incidence of cardiac events of 2.5% in unselected patients aged >40 years. The identification of myocardial injury after non-cardiac surgery is a problematic and tough challenge, since up to 50% of cardiac deaths actually occur in patients with no history of overt heart disease. Recently, among novel sensitive and specific cardiovascular risk markers, the European Society of Cardiology and European Society of Anesthesiology guidelines for preoperative cardiac risk assessment have recommended that preoperative brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) measurement should be considered in high-risk patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. However, several recent studies and meta-analyses, published in the last 5 years, strongly support the use of both assays of cardiac B-type natriuretic peptides and troponins, for risk stratification in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, in order to improve operative and postoperative outcome. Indeed, an increase in specific cardiac biomarkers, as it is the case for natriuretic peptides and troponins, always indicates that the heart is under a stress condition or even actually injured, respectively. In conclusion, the authors suggest that future guidelines on cardiovascular risk evaluation in patients undergoing major surgical procedures should take into account the following evidence.

Utility of point-of-care testing of natriuretic peptides (brain natriuretic peptide and n-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide) in the emergency department.

Rapid and accurate diagnosis of a patient with an acute disease is a challenge for emergency physicians. Natriuretic peptides have emerged as important tools for diagnosis, risk stratification and therapeutic decision making for some categories of emergency patients. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a member of a four natriuretic peptides family that shares a common 17-peptide ring structure. Atrial natriuretic peptide, C-natriuretic peptide (CNP), and D-type natriuretic peptide are the other natriuretic peptide, which share the same common 17-peptide ring structure. The N-terminal fragment of pro-BNP, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) consists of 76 amino acids, which is biologically inert, while the active component BNP contains 32 amino acids. BNP and NT-proBNP are secreted in the plasma in equimolar quantities and are frequently used in the diagnosis of congestive heart failure, and distinguishing between patients with dyspnea of cardiac or pulmonary origin. Both natriuretic peptides have also been evaluated for use in the assessment and management of several other conditions including sepsis, cirrhosis of liver and renal failure. However, one should remember that the values of natriuretic peptides are affected by age and weight of the patients, and presence of several comorbidities such as chronic renal failure, type 2 diabetes mellitus, anemia, pulmonary embolism, and acute coronary syndrome. Values of these peptides also vary depending on the type of test used. The performance characteristics of these natriuretic peptides vary depending on the patients on whom they are used. Therefore determination of reference values for these peptides represents a challenge.

The Prognostic Value of Pre-Operative and Post-Operative B-Type Natriuretic Peptides in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery: B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and N-Terminal Fragment of Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis

The objective of this study was to determine whether measuring post-operative B-type natriuretic peptides (NPs) (i.e., B-type natriuretic peptide [BNP] and N-terminal fragment of proBNP [NT-proBNP]) enhances risk stratification in adult patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, in whom a pre-operative NP has been measured. Pre-operative NP concentrations are powerful independent predictors of perioperative cardiovascular complications, but recent studies have reported that elevated post-operative NP concentrations are independently associated with these complications. It is not clear whether there is value in measuring post-operative NP when a pre-operative measurement has been done. We conducted a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis to determine whether the addition of post-operative NP levels enhanced the prediction of the composite of death and nonfatal myocardial infarction at 30 and ≥180 days after surgery. Eighteen eligible studies provided individual patient data (n = 2,179). Adding post-operative NP to a risk prediction model containing pre-operative NP improved model fit and risk classification at both 30 days (corrected quasi-likelihood under the independence model criterion: 1,280 to 1,204; net reclassification index: 20%; p < 0.001) and ≥180 days (corrected quasi-likelihood under the independence model criterion: 1,320 to 1,300; net reclassification index: 11%; p = 0.003). Elevated post-operative NP was the strongest independent predictor of the primary outcome at 30 days (odds ratio: 3.7; 95% confidence interval: 2.2 to 6.2; p < 0.001) and ≥180 days (odds ratio: 2.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.9 to 2.7; p < 0.001) after surgery. Additional post-operative NP measurement enhanced risk stratification for the composite outcomes of death or nonfatal myocardial infarction at 30 days and ≥180 days after noncardiac surgery compared with a pre-operative NP measurement alone.

Prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide in elderly patients with aortic valve stenosis: the COFRASA–GENERAC study

ObjectivePrevious studies suggested an independent prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in aortic valve stenosis (AS) but were impeded by small sample sizes and inclusion of relatively selected young...

Mendelian randomization study of B-type natriuretic peptide and type 2 diabetes: evidence of causal association from population studies.

Genetic and epidemiological evidence suggests an inverse association between B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in blood and risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the prospective association of BNP with T2D is uncertain, and it is unclear whether the association is confounded. We analysed the association between levels of the N-terminal fragment of pro-BNP (NT-pro-BNP) in blood and risk of incident T2D in a prospective case-cohort study and genotyped the variant rs198389 within the BNP locus in three T2D case-control studies. We combined our results with existing data in a meta-analysis of 11 case-control studies. Using a Mendelian randomization approach, we compared the observed association between rs198389 and T2D to that expected from the NT-pro-BNP level to T2D association and the NT-pro-BNP difference per C allele of rs198389. In participants of our case-cohort study who were free of T2D and cardiovascular disease at baseline, we observed a 21% (95% CI 3%-36%) decreased risk of incident T2D per one standard deviation (SD) higher log-transformed NT-pro-BNP levels in analysis adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, smoking, family history of T2D, history of hypertension, and levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The association between rs198389 and T2D observed in case-control studies (odds ratio = 0.94 per C allele, 95% CI 0.91-0.97) was similar to that expected (0.96, 0.93-0.98) based on the pooled estimate for the log-NT-pro-BNP level to T2D association derived from a meta-analysis of our study and published data (hazard ratio = 0.82 per SD, 0.74-0.90) and the difference in NT-pro-BNP levels (0.22 SD, 0.15-0.29) per C allele of rs198389. No significant associations were observed between the rs198389 genotype and potential confounders. Our results provide evidence for a potential causal role of the BNP system in the aetiology of T2D. Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying this association and possibilities for preventive interventions. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Human Pro–B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Is Processed in the Circulation in a Rat Model

The appearance of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in the blood is ultimately caused by proteolytic processing of its precursor, proBNP. The mechanisms leading to the high plasma concentration of unprocessed proBNP are still poorly understood. The goals of the present study were to examine whether processing of proBNP takes place in the circulation and to evaluate the clearance rate of proBNP and proBNP-derived peptides. We studied the processing of human proBNP in the circulation and the clearance rate of proBNP and proBNP-derived peptides (BNP and N-terminal fragment of proBNP, NT-proBNP) in rats by injecting the corresponding peptides and analyzing immunoreactivity at specific time points. Glycosylated and nonglycosylated proBNP and NT-proBNP were used in the experiments. We applied immunoassays, gel filtration, and mass spectrometry (MS) techniques to analyze the circulation-mediated processing of proBNP. ProBNP was effectively processed in the circulation into BNP (1-32) and various truncated BNP forms as confirmed by gel filtration and MS analysis. Glycosylation of proBNP close to the cleavage-site region suppressed its processing in the circulation. The terminal half-life for human glycosylated proBNP was 9.0 (0.5) min compared with 6.4 (0.5) min for BNP. For NT-proBNP, the terminal half-lives were 15.7 (1.4) min and 15.5 (1.3) min for glycosylated and nonglycosylated forms, respectively. In rats, processing of human proBNP to active BNP occurs in the circulation. The clearance rate of proBNP is quite similar to that of BNP. These observations suggest that peripheral proBNP processing may be an important regulatory step rather than mere degradation.

N-terminal fragment of proBNP is a marker of risk for right ventricular dysfunction and cardiac complications in thalassemia major

Introduction Cardiac complications are the main cause of morbidity and mortality in thalassemia major (TM). In particular, thalassemic cardiomyopathy include forms with right involvement difficult to detect by usual approach, whereas early diagnosis could permit early treatment and improvement in prognosis. Plasma N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) concentration holds a known value in asymptomatic cardiac patients, too, but its usefulness in the management of TM has not been fully investigated.

N-terminal fragment of proBNP is a marker of high cardiac output cardiomyopathy evaluated by CMR in thalassemia syndromes

Introduction In thalassemia patients heart failure remains the main cause of mortality. High cardiac output state due to chronic anaemia is a significant determinant of cardiomyopathy, in particular in thalassemia intermedia (TI) patients (a moderate form, not transfusion dependent). Hypoxia and volume overload are known stimuli for plasma N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) raise. Nevertheless, NT-proBNP role in clinical management of thalassemia patients has not been fully investigated.

Candesartan, NT-proBNP and recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion

Background Some small studies have suggested that low levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measured before electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation (AF) may be associated with maintenance of sinus rhythm after the procedure. We hypothesized that 1) plasma levels of N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) measured before cardioversion were predictive of AF recurrence, 2) treatment with candesartan would influence the levels of NT-proBNP, and 3) restoration of sinus rhythm would reduce the levels of NT-proBNP. Methods We investigated 171 patients with persistent AF who underwent electrical cardioversion in a prospective, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial (Candesartan in the Prevention of Relapsing Atrial Fibrillation, CAPRAF). Plasma levels of NT-proBNP were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Patients with congestive heart failure were excluded from the study. Results Baseline NT-proBNP levels were similar in patients with unsuccessful cardioversion ( n = 22), patients with successful cardioversion remaining in sinus rhythm ( n = 40) and patients with successful cardioversion who had a relapse of AF ( n = 89): median (interquartile range) 73.9 pmol/L (43.2, 145.6); 88.2 pmol/L (59.2, 147.5) and 90.0 pmol/L (55.3, 138.4), respectively. Maintenance of sinus rhythm was associated with a significant reduction in NT-proBNP levels, whereas NT-proBNP levels were not affected by treatment with candesartan. Conclusions Plasma NT-proBNP concentration measured before electrical cardioversion did neither predict cardioversion success nor relapse of AF in patients without heart failure. Treatment with candesartan did not affect the levels of NT-proBNP. Maintained sinus rhythm during follow-up was associated with a significant reduction in NT-proBNP levels.

The Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Precursor Is the Major Immunoreactive Form of BNP in Patients with Heart Failure

Peptides derived from brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) precursor (proBNP), BNP, and the N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) are used as biomarkers of heart failure. It remains unclear which forms of these peptides circulate in blood and which forms are measured by assays for these natriuretic peptides. To design assays for immunodetection of proBNP, NT-proBNP, and BNP, we used a panel of BNP- and NT-proBNP-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). All MAbs were tested in 2-site combinations in time-resolved fluoroimmunoassays with recombinant or synthetic antigens and plasma from heart failure (HF) patients. ProBNP and related molecules were assayed in HF plasma samples and plasma extracts by means of gel filtration fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) before and after protein fractionation on Sep-Pak C18 cartridges. The limits of detection for BNP, proBNP, and NT-proBNP assays were 0.4, 3, and 10 ng/L, respectively. Gel filtration-FPLC studies revealed 1 peak of NT-proBNP (approximately 25 kDa), 1 peak of proBNP (approximately 37 kDa), and 2 peaks of BNP immunoreactivity, a major peak (approximately 37 kDa) for proBNP, and a minor peak (approximately 4 kDa) for BNP. In patient plasma, the molar concentration of NT-proBNP was almost 10 times that of proBNP. The mean proBNP:BNP ratio in patient plasma was 6.3, ranging from 1.8 to 10.8. ProBNP is the major BNP-immunoreactive form in human blood. The proBNP:BNP ratio in plasma samples is dependent on the methods used for sample handling and for the measurement of the peptides.

Correlation and Prognostic Utility of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and Its Amino-Terminal Fragment in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

This study compared the correlation and prognostic utility of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) in 171 outpatients with renal dysfunction. The NT-proBNP correlated well with BNP in all cases (r = 0.911; P ≤ .01), regardless of degree of renal impairment or type of left ventricular dysfunction. BNP and NT-proBNP concentrations (P < .005) and their ratios (P ≤ .01) increased as the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) declined, indicating a greater effect of GFR on NT-proBNP levels. Both natriuretic peptide levels were higher in patients with systolic dysfunction (P < .05) compared with patients with normal echocardiograms. In contrast, BNP and NT-proBNP levels were below the diagnostic cutoffs for congestive heart failure exacerbations in patients with normal heart function or diastolic dysfunction, with no statistical difference between these groups (P = .99). Both peptides are useful prognostic tools for predicting mortality and cardiac hospitalization in renal patients.

Correlation and Prognostic Utility of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and Its Amino-Terminal Fragment in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

This study compared the correlation and prognostic utility of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) in 171 outpatients with renal dysfunction. The NT-proBNP correlated well with BNP in all cases (r = 0.911; P pound .01), regardless of degree of renal impairment or type of left ventricular dysfunction. BNP and NT-proBNP concentrations (P < .005) and their ratios (P pound .01) increased as the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) declined, indicating a greater effect of GFR on NT-proBNP levels. Both natriuretic peptide levels were higher in patients with systolic dysfunction (P < .05) compared with patients with normal echocardiograms. In contrast, BNP and NT-proBNP levels were below the diagnostic cutoffs for congestive heart failure exacerbations in patients with normal heart function or diastolic dysfunction, with no statistical difference between these groups (P = .99). Both peptides are useful prognostic tools for predicting mortality and cardiac hospitalization in renal patients.

Decreasing ratio of plasma N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide and B‐type natriuretic peptide according to age

Abstract Background: B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the N‐terminal fragment of proBNP (NT‐proBNP) seem to be useful diagnostic tools also in children with cardiac disease. Recent data suggest that plasma levels of both peptides show different patterns from infancy to adolescence. Aim: To investigate the relationship of BNP and NT‐proBNP in children and adolescents according to age. Subjects and methods: In 46 individuals without cardiac disease (22 males, 24 females, aged 0.4–17.5 years) and 30 patients with congenital heart disease (17 males, 13 females, aged 0.2–18.4 years), plasma levels of BNP and NT‐proBNP were measured in the same sample (triage BNP assay, Biosite® and Elecsys NT‐proBNP assay, Roche Diagnostics®). Results: The range of BNP plasma levels was 5–32 pg/ml in individuals without heart disease and 5–1300 pg/ml in the patient group, the range of NT‐proBNP was 10–298 pg/ml and 30–18966 pg/ml, respectively. In both groups, the ratio NT‐proBNP/BNP decreased with increasing age (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Although proBNP is cleaved into the two fragments NT‐proBNP and BNP, there is a decreasing ratio of NT‐proBNP/BNP with increasing age caused probably by age‐dependent differences in the metabolic clearance of both peptides. This has to be considered in comparison studies on BNP and NT‐proBNP regarding their benefit to paediatric cardiology.

Decreasing ratio of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and B-type natriuretic peptide according to age

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) seem to be useful diagnostic tools also in children with cardiac disease. Recent data suggest that plasma levels of both peptides show different patterns from infancy to adolescence. To investigate the relationship of BNP and NT-proBNP in children and adolescents according to age. In 46 individuals without cardiac disease (22 males, 24 females, aged 0.4-17.5 years) and 30 patients with congenital heart disease (17 males, 13 females, aged 0.2-18.4 years), plasma levels of BNP and NT-proBNP were measured in the same sample (triage BNP assay, Biosite and Elecsys NT-proBNP assay, Roche Diagnostics). The range of BNP plasma levels was 5-32 pg/ml in individuals without heart disease and 5-1300 pg/ml in the patient group, the range of NT-proBNP was 10-298 pg/ml and 30-18,966 pg/ml, respectively. In both groups, the ratio NT-proBNP/BNP decreased with increasing age (P<0.001). Although proBNP is cleaved into the two fragments NT-proBNP and BNP, there is a decreasing ratio of NT-proBNP/BNP with increasing age caused probably by age-dependent differences in the metabolic clearance of both peptides. This has to be considered in comparison studies on BNP and NT-proBNP regarding their benefit to paediatric cardiology.

Plasma heart-type fatty acid binding protein is superior to troponin and myoglobin for rapid risk stratification in acute pulmonary embolism

Background Irreversible right ventricular (RV) failure with myocardial damage may precipitate fatal outcome in acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Cytoplasmic heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is a sensitive and specific biomarker of myocardial damage. We assessed which biomarker of myocardial damage or RV stretching is the most useful for short-term risk stratification in APE. Methods We analyzed 77 patients (51 F, 26 M) aged 65.3 ± 16.0 years with confirmed APE. On admission, systemic blood pressure and transthoracic echocardiography (for RV overload) were recorded and plasma concentrations of myoglobin (Mb), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), N-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP) and H-FABP were evaluated. Results Fifteen (19.5%) patients died and 24 (31.2%) experienced complicated clinical course (CCC)-death/thrombolysis/cardiopulmonary resuscitation/intravenous vasopressors. Hazard ratio analysis demonstrated that plasma H-FABP, Mb, cTnT and NT-proBNP concentrations predicted fatal outcome. When only APE-related deaths were considered, plasma H-FABP concentrations indicated fatal outcome. Multivariate hazard ratio analysis revealed H-FABP as the only 30-day mortality predictor (HR 1.02 CI 95% 1.01–1.05). Conclusions H-FABP measured on admission is useful for short-term risk stratification in APE. It appears to be superior to cTnT, NT-proBNP and Mb in the prediction of 30-day APE-related mortality.