Plasma B-type Natriuretic Peptide Levels Research Articles

Impact of Remote Dielectric Sensing on Predicting Worsening Heart Failure During Hospitalization for Heart Failure

Background: A remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) system quickly quantifies pulmonary congestion. Nonetheless, its efficacy in predicting an in-hospital increase in plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels, the potential surrogate of worsening heart failure, remains undetermined. Methods: Patients who underwent ReDS measurement on admission during their hospitalization in the general wards for heart failure between 2021 and 2022 were eligible. The impact of the baseline ReDS value, completely blinded to the attending clinicians, on the in-hospital increase in plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels of >100 pg/mL from index admission was evaluated. Results: A total of 147 patients admitted with acute-on-chronic heart failure (median age: 79 years; 76 men) were included. The median ReDS value on admission was 28% (25%, 34%). Eighteen patients experienced the primary outcome: plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels increasing from 461 (207, 790) pg/mL (baseline) to 958 (584, 1290) pg/mL (maximum) (p < 0.001). The ReDS value on admission was an independent predictor of the primary outcome, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.07 (95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.14; p = 0.028) with an optimal cutoff of 32%. Conclusions: The ReDS system could be a promising tool for predicting in-hospital worsening heart failure in patients hospitalized for heart failure when measured upon admission. The clinical implication of ReDS-guided management of heart failure during index hospitalization requires further studies.

Correlations Between Plasma BNP Level and Risk of Thrombotic-Hemorrhagic Events After Left Atrial Appendage Closure.

Background: Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) reduces the incidence of stroke/bleeding events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, high risk of stroke, and contraindication in continuing anticoagulation therapy. Of them, patients with heart failure may remain at high risk of these events after LAAC. Method: Patients who underwent LAAC and were listed for the multi-center, prospectively collected OCEAN-LAAC registry, were eligible. Of them, individuals without baseline plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and those dependent on hemodialysis were excluded. The prognostic impact of baseline plasma BNP levels on the incidence of death or stroke/bleeding events after LAAC was evaluated. Results: A total of 937 patients (median 78 years, 596 men) were included. The LAAC device was successfully implanted in 934 (98%) patients. Over the 366 (251, 436) days after the LAAC, 148 patients encountered a primary outcome. The common logarithm of baseline plasma BNP was independently associated with the primary outcome with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.46 (95% confidence interval 1.06-2.18, p = 0.043). A calculated cutoff of 2.12 (equivalent to 133 pg/mL of plasma BNP level) significantly stratified the cumulative incidence of the primary outcome (29% vs. 21% for 2 years, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Using prospectively collected large-scale multi-center Japanese registry data, we demonstrated that a baseline higher plasma BNP level was independently associated with a higher incidence of stroke/bleeding events and mortality after LAAC. Further studies are warranted to understand the optimal therapeutic strategy for LAAC candidates with elevated baseline plasma BNP levels.

Sigmoidal heart rate response pattern during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure.

Detailed heart rate (HR) response patterns during exercise in patients with heart failure (HF) and sinus rhythm remain uncertain. We screened consecutive patients with HF who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise tests at a large academic center from November 2013 to July 2023. HR response during exercise was statistically classified using logistic differential equation models. A total of 99 patients were included. Of them, 75 patients were assigned to "sigmoidal pattern" and the other 24 to "exponential pattern." Patients with the sigmoidal pattern were older and exhibited higher plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels. Increases in HR and oxygen consumption (V̇o2)/kg up to the anaerobic threshold level were not different between both patterns. However, beyond the threshold, the sigmoidal pattern group showed no further increase in HR and significantly lower V̇o2/kg than their counterparts (interactions for P < 0.001). HR response during exercise in patients with heart failure and sinus rhythm was categorized into two unique groups: sigmoidal and exponential patterns. More detailed clarification of the sigmoidal pattern, potentially indicating sinus node dysfunction, should offer new clinical insights for chronotropic incompetence.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Heart rate response patterns can be classified into two groups among patients with chronic heart failure reaching maximal exertion: sigmoidal and exponential.

Efficacy and safety of the urate-lowering agent febuxostat in chronic heart failure patients with hyperuricemia: results from the LEAF-CHF study.

Hyperuricemia is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). To determine whether febuxostat, a urate-lowering agent, may improve clinical outcomes in CHF patients, we conducted a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint study with a treatment period of 24weeks. We randomly assigned Japanese outpatients diagnosed with both CHF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 40%) and asymptomatic hyperuricemia (serum uric acid [UA] levels > 7.0mg/dl and < 10.0mg/dl) to either a febuxostat group (n = 51) or a control group (n = 50). The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in log-transformed plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels from baseline to week 24 (or at discontinuation). The secondary efficacy endpoints were the changes in LV systolic or diastolic function evaluated by echocardiography, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, hemoglobin, and estimated glomerular filtration rate from baseline to week 24, and the change in log-transformed plasma BNP levels or serum UA levels from baseline to weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 (BNP) or weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 (serum UA). The primary safety endpoints were occurrence of all-cause death or major cardiovascular events. The mean age of participants was 70years; 14% were female. The febuxostat group and the control group did not differ with respect to the primary efficacy endpoint (p = 0.13), although the decrease in log-transformed plasma BNP levels from baseline to each of weeks 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 was greater in the febuxostat group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the primary safety endpoints or the secondary efficacy endpoints except reduced serum UA levels in the febuxostat group. Febuxostat did not reduce plasma BNP levels at week 24 in patients with CHF, but it appeared safe with no increase in major cardiovascular events and all-cause or cardiovascular mortality.

Impaired Gastrointestinal Motility and Worsening Heart Failure in Patients Receiving Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Impaired gastric motility in the form of constipation may often occur in elderly patients with chronic heart failure. Candidates for trans-catheter aortic replacement (TAVR) are of old age and have multiple comorbidities, probably including constipation. However, the clinical implication of a history of constipation in patients receiving TAVR remains unknown. Methods: Patients who underwent TAVR at our large academic center between 2015 and 2022 were eligible. The prognostic impact of the prescribed laxative type and number, which was assumed as the severity of constipation, on the incidence of death or heart failure readmission two years after index discharge was investigated. Results: A total of 344 patients were included. Median age was 85 years, and 99 patients were men. Patients with any laxatives (N = 166) had higher systolic blood pressure, higher plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels, and a lower prescription rate of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors at the time of index discharge after TAVR (p < 0.05 for all). The number of laxative types was independently associated with the composite primary outcome with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.83 (95% confidence interval 1.27-2.63, p = 0.001) with a cutoff of one type of laxative used, which significantly stratified the 2-year cumulative incidence of the primary outcome (18% versus 7%, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The presence of constipation was associated with worse clinical outcomes following TAVR. The prognostic impact of an aggressive intervention for constipation remains a future concern in this cohort.

Short-term impact of kampo goreisan in patients with congestive heart failure refractory to tolvaptan-incorporated medical therapy.

We often encounter patients with congestive heart failure refractory to conventional diuretics therapy. Kampo goreisan (Tsumura &Co. Tokyo, Japan) is receiving great concern in mediating body water balance, particularly for such a cohort. However, its detailed biological mechanism remains uncertain. Patients who received goreisan to treat congestive heart failure refractory to tolvaptan-incorporated medical therapy were prospectively included and observed for one week during the therapeutic period. The change in urine biomarkers during the first 24h was assessed as a primary concern. Baseline factors associated with an increase in urine volume during the first 24h were investigated as a secondary concern. A total of 18 patients were included. Median age was 81 (77, 86) and 12 (67%) were men. During the first 24h after the initiation of goreisan, urine cyclic AMP tended to decrease, urine aquaporin-2 decreased significantly, urine osmolality decreased significantly, and urine volume tended to increase. Baseline higher common logarithm of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide was associated with any increases in urine volume during the first 24h with an odds ratio of 73.2 (95% confidence interval 1.04-5149, p = 0.048). Baseline plasma B-type natriuretic peptide level had a positive correlation with a change in urine volume between baseline and day 1 (r = 0.533, p = 0.026). Goreisan may increase urine volume even in patients with congestive heart failure refractory to tolvaptan-incorporated medical therapy by modulating aquaporin-2 systems in the collecting duct, particularly in individuals with advanced heart failure accompanying significant congestion. Goreisan may have a regulatory effect on body fluid, rather than just forcing aquaresis.

Increased Systemic Levels of Centrally Acting B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Are Associated with Chronic Itch of Different Types

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is an itch-selective neuropeptide that was shown to play a role in both histaminergic and nonhistaminergic itch in mice. It was also shown that elevated serum BNP is linked to increased pruritus in nondiabetic hemodialysis patients. This study examined plasma BNP levels of 77 patients and N-terminal pro-BNP levels of 33 patients with differing types of chronic itch to see whether BNP and N-terminal pro-BNP levels can correlate with itch severity. Plasma BNP and N-terminal pro-BNP levels of all patients with itch correlated with itch numerical rating scale and in particular for patients with chronic pruritus of unknown origin. On the basis of this clinical observation, this study further showed that increasing pathophysiological levels of BNP in mice by intravenous or osmotic pump induced significant scratching. In addition, pharmacological and ablation strategies determined that BNP acts centrally by activating the natriuretic peptide receptor A in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. These data support that BNP and N-terminal pro-BNP levels are associated with chronic itch and may be used in clinical setting.

Predictive Factors of Cardiac Mortality Following TEER in Patients with Secondary Mitral Regurgitation

Background: Transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER) has emerged as a viable approach to addressing substantial secondary mitral regurgitation. In the contemporary landscape where ultimate heart failure-specific therapies, such as cardiac replacement modalities, are available, prognosticating a high-risk cohort susceptible to early cardiac mortality post-TEER is pivotal for formulating an effective therapeutic regimen. Methods: Our study encompassed individuals with secondary mitral regurgitation and chronic heart failure enlisted in the multi-center (Optimized CathEter vAlvular iNtervention (OCEAN)-Mitral registry. We conducted an assessment of baseline variables associated with cardiac death within one year following TEER. Results: Amongst the 1517 patients (median age: 78 years, 899 males), 101 experienced cardiac mortality during the 1-year observation period after undergoing TEER. Notably, a history of heart failure-related admissions within the preceding year, utilization of intravenous inotropes, and elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels emerged as independent prognosticators for the primary outcome (p &lt; 0.05 for all). Subsequently, we devised a novel risk-scoring system encompassing these variables, which significantly stratified the cumulative incidence of the 1-year primary outcome (16%, 8%, and 4%, p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Our study culminated in the development of a new risk-scoring system aimed at predicting 1-year cardiac mortality post-TEER.

Effect of comorbid heart failure assessed by plasma B-type natriuretic peptide level on the activities of daily living in patients with hospitalization-associated disability after aspiration pneumonia.

We investigated the effects of comorbid heart failure on rehabilitation outcomes in patients with hospitalization-associated disability after aspiration pneumonia(AP). This study included 134 patients with hospitalization-associated disability after AP. Patients were classified into heart failure (B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) ≧100pg/ml, n = 39) and non-heart failure (BNP < 100pg/ml, n = 95) groups, and the rehabilitation outcomes of both groups were compared. Rehabilitation effectiveness was lower in heart failure group than in non-heart failure group (21.1 ± 22.6% vs 36.2 ± 30.8, p < 0.01). The rate of independent walking at discharge in heart failure group (28.2%) was significantly lower than in non-heart failure group (53.7%). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age, male, handgrip strength, quadriceps strength, functional oral intake scale, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form, and BNP were significantly associated with rehabilitation effectiveness. Results suggest that comorbid heart failure has a negative impact on rehabilitation outcomes in patients with hospital-associated disability after AP.

Prognostic Implication of Intestinal Wall Edema in Patients with Aortic Stenosis Receiving Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

A recently proposed mechanism, the intestinal-cardiovascular relationship, serves as a framework to elucidate the interplay between these two systems. In our investigation, we assessed the prognostic implications of colon wall thickness, a marker correlated with intestinal congestion and dysfunction, in patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Patients diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVR at our institution during the period spanning 2015 to 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. As part of the institutional protocol, patients underwent abdominal computed tomography upon admission, preceding TAVR. Our analysis aimed to assess the influence of colon wall thickness on the occurrence of either all-cause mortality or readmission due to heart failure within a two-year period. A total of 345 patients were included. The median age was 85 (82, 88) years, and 99 patients were male. Baseline colon wall thickness was distributed widely, with a median value of 2.2 (2.0, 2.5) mm. Patients with thicker colon walls tended to have lower pulmonary artery pulsatility index values, indicating more impaired right ventricular function and more advanced malnutrition. A thicker colon wall was independently associated with 2-year death or heart failure readmission with a hazard ratio of 2.02 (95% confidence interval 1.01-14.07), adjusted for hemoglobin, age, and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels (p = 0.049), and significantly stratified the primary endpoint at a cutoff of 2.7 mm (25% versus 10%, p = 0.005). Our initial observation revealed that a thicker baseline colon wall correlated with increased rates of mid-term mortality and readmission due to heart failure subsequent to TAVR. Developing a comprehensive understanding of the underlying causality necessitates further in-depth investigations through subsequent studies.

Clinical effect of renal dysfunction on diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of B-type Natriuretic Peptide and N-terminal Pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide for acute heart failure

Abstract Background Acute heart failure (AHF) continues to have unacceptable high rates of mortality and morbidity. Therefore, accurate and rapid diagnosis of AHF is crucial for the early initiation of effective treatment. Previous studies have shown that plasma concentrations of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) increase with declining renal function and that renal dysfunction seems to decrease the accuracy of BNP and NT-proBNP in the diagnosis of AHF. Purpose We aimed to directly compare the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of BNP and NT-proBNP in patients presenting with acute dyspnea, including the effect of renal function. Methods This prospective diagnostic study enrolled unselected patients presenting with acute dyspnea to the emergency department. The final diagnosis was centrally adjudicated by two independent cardiologists using all information including imaging and follow-up. BNP and NT-proBNP plasma levels were determined at presentation. 360 days all-cause mortality was the primary prognostic end point. Results Among 1579 patients, acute heart failure (AHF) was the adjudicated final diagnosis in 865 patients (54.8%). Plasma concentrations of both BNP and NT-proBNP were significantly higher in AHF as compared to other causes of acute dyspnea (both p&amp;lt;0.001). Diagnostic accuracy as quantified by the area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve (AUC) was 0.948 (95% CI 0.938-0.958) for BNP as compared to 0.921 (95% CI 0.908-0.935) for NT-proBNP, p&amp;lt;0.001. The diagnostic superiority of BNP was consistent among predefined subgroups according to renal function and increased with the extent of renal dysfunction (Figure 1: all patients (A), patients with eGFR≥ 60 ml/min/1,73 m² (B), patients with eGFR 30-59 ml/min/1,73 m² (C), patients with eGFR &amp;lt;30ml/min/1,73 m² (D)). In contrast, prognostic accuracy for the prediction of death at 360 days was higher for NT-proBNP (AUC 0.731, 95% CI 0.702-0.760 versus 0.706, 95%CI 0.676-0.736 for BNP; p&amp;lt;0.001). The diagnostic superiority of NTproBNP was consistent among predefined subgroups according to renal function but decreased with the extent of renal dysfunction. Conclusion In patients with acute dyspnea, BNP and NT-proBNP at presentation both have very high diagnostic accuracy for AHF and moderate prognostic accuracy for death. There is a numerically small, but statistically and possibly also clinically significant diagnostic superiority of BNP and prognostic superiority of NT-proBNP.Diagnostic accuracy for AHF

Inhibition of protein arginine deiminase 4 prevents inflammation-mediated heart failure in arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a prototypic inflammatory condition with affected patients being at greater risk of incident heart failure (HF). Targeting innate immune cell function in the pathogenesis of HF bears the potential to guide the development of future therapies. A collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model in DBA/1 J mice was used to generate arthritis. Mice with CIA developed concentric hypertrophic myocardial remodeling, left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, and HF with elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels but preserved LV ejection fraction. Key features of HF in CIA were increased infiltration of activated neutrophils, deposition of neutrophil extracellular traps in the myocardium, and increased tissue levels of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Specific inhibition of protein arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) by an orally available inhibitor (JBI-589), administered after the onset of clinical arthritis, prevented HF with reduced neutrophil infiltration. We identify PAD4-mediated neutrophil activation and recruitment as the key thromboinflammatory pathway driving HF development in arthritis. Targeting PAD4 may be a viable therapeutic approach for the prevention of HF secondary to chronic inflammation.

Scientific evidence of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

It remains controversial whether sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) are effective in treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The objective of this umbrella review is to provide a summary of the available evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of SGLT-2is for the treatment of HFpEF. We extracted pertinent systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRs/MAs) from PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library that were published between the inception of the database and December 31, 2022. Two independent investigators assessed the methodological quality, risk of bias, report quality, and evidence quality of the included SRs/MAs in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We further evaluated the overlap of the included RCTs by calculating the corrected covered area (CCA) and assessed the reliability of the effect size by performing excess significance tests. Additionally, the effect sizes of the outcomes were repooled to obtain objective and updated conclusions. Egger's test and sensitivity analysis were used to clarify the stability and reliability of the updated conclusion. This umbrella review included 15 SRs/MAs, and their methodological quality, risk of bias, report quality, and evidence quality were unsatisfactory. The total CCA for 15 SRs/MAs was 23.53%, indicating a very high level of overlap. The excess significance tests did not reveal any significant results. Our updated MA demonstrated that the incidence of the composite of hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) or cardiovascular death (CVD), first HHF, total HHF, and adverse events as well as the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Total Symptom Score (KCCQ-TSS) and 6 min-walk distance (6MWD) were all substantially improved in the SGLT-2i intervention group compared to the control group. However, there was limited evidence that SGLT-2is could improve CVD, all-cause death, plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, or plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level. Egger's test and sensitivity analysis proved that the conclusion was stable and reliable. SGLT-2 is a potential treatment for HFpEF with favourable safety. Given the dubious methodological quality, reporting quality, evidence quality, and high risk of bias for certain included SRs/MAs, this conclusion must be drawn with caution. https://inplasy.com/, doi: 10.37766/inplasy2022.12.0083, identifier INPLASY2022120083.

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Can Distinguish Ischemic Stroke Subtypes Better than Other Cardiac Biomarkers.

BACKGROUND The primary benefit to patients of being able to distinguish among subtypes of ischemic stroke (IS) is creation of a better treatment decision-making process. Current classification methods are complex and time-consuming, requiring hours to days. Blood-based cardiac biomarker measurements have the potential to improve mechanism classification of ischemic stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, 223 patients with IS were selected as the case group and 75 healthy people who underwent physical examination at the same time were selected as the control group. The chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) method established in this study was used to quantitatively detect plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in subjects. All subjects were assessed for serum creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and myoglobin (MYO) after admission. We investigated the effectiveness of BNP and other cardiac biomarkers in the diagnosis of different subtypes of IS. RESULTS The levels of the 4 cardiac biomarkers were increased in IS patients. BNP could better diagnose different types of IS compared to other cardiac biomarkers, and BNP combined with other cardiac biomarkers was better than a single indicator in diagnosing IS. CONCLUSIONS Compared with other cardiac biomarkers, BNP is a better marker for the diagnosis of different subtypes of ischemic stroke. Routine screening for BNP in IS patients is recommended to improve the treatment decision-making process and minimize the time to thrombosis, thereby providing a more precise treatment for patients with different subtypes of stroke.

Correlation Between Plasma B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels and Remote Dielectric Sensing in Patients with Heart Failure.

Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a practical tool with which to estimate hemodynamic status including intra-cardiac pressure in patients with heart failure (HF). However, plasma BNP levels cannot be measured immediately in an outpatient private clinic. We investigated the value of remote dielectric sensing (ReDS), a novel non-invasive electromagnetic energy-based tool to quantify lung fluid amount immediately, to predict plasma BNP levels.Successive measurements of ReDS values and plasma BNP levels were performed in patients hospitalized to treat HF in a prospective manner. Correlations between ReDS values and plasma BNP levels were assessed.A total of 117 datasets for HF patients were obtained in this prospective study. The median ReDS value was 28% (interquartile range: 25%, 34%) and the median plasma BNP level was 205 (86, 469) pg/mL, both of which had a slight correlation (r = 0.234, P = 0.011). Their correlation improved when those with a body mass index less than 18.5 (n = 23) were excluded (r = 0.278, P = 0.007).ReDS might be a practical tool for estimating plasma BNP levels, particularly in outpatient private clinics where the immediate measurement of plasma BNP levels is not available.

Remote dielectric sensing and lung ultrasound to assess pulmonary congestion.

We investigated the agreement between remote dielectric sensing (ReDS) system, which is a recently introduced non-invasive technology to quantify the degree of pulmonary congestion, and lung ultrasound (LUS), which is a gold standard to assess the existence of severe pulmonary congestion. Consecutive patients who were hospitalized to examine the cause of heart failure and treat their heart failure in our institute were prospectively included. They received LUS and simultaneous ReDS measurements. Three or more B-lines at each LUS zone was assigned to B-profile positive, indicating the existence of significant pulmonary congestion. ReDS values ≥ 35% were defined as significant pulmonary congestion. A total of 19 heart failure patients were included (77years, 13 men). Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide level was 131 (36, 416) pg/ml. Three patients had B-profile, indicating significant pulmonary congestion, and two of them had ≥ 35% of ReDS (sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 87.5%, and negative predictive value 93.3%). Most of the patients (79%) had lower B-lines below 3 and did not satisfy the criteria of B-profile, irrespective of wide ranges of ReDS values. ReDS system had as acceptable predictability as LUS in assessing the existence of significant pulmonary congestion. ReDS would be recommended to rule out significant pulmonary congestion or quantify the degree of less significant pulmonary congestion.

Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Levels and Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure

BackgroundSoluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a marker of immune activation and pathogenic factor for kidney disease shown to predict cardiovascular outcomes including heart failure (HF) in various populations. We characterized suPAR levels in patients with HF and compared its ability to discriminate risk to that of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Methods and ResultsWe measured plasma suPAR and BNP levels in 3,437 patients undergoing coronary angiogram and followed for a median of 6.2 years. We performed survival analyses for the following outcomes: all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization for HF. We then assessed suPAR's ability to discriminate risk for the aforementioned outcomes. We identified 1116 patients with HF (age 65±12, 67.2% male, 20.0% Black, 67% with reduced ejection fraction). The median suPAR level was higher in HF compared to those without HF (3370 [IQR 2610-4371] vs. 2880 [IQR 2270-3670] pg/mL, respectively, P<0.001). In patients with HF, suPAR levels (log-base 2) were associated with outcomes including all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio aHR 2.30, 95%CI[1.90-2.77]), cardiovascular death (aHR 2.33 95%CI[1.81-2.99]) and HF hospitalization (aHR 1.96, 95%CI[1.06-1.25]) independently of clinical characteristics and BNP levels. The association persisted across subgroups and did not differ between patients with reduced or preserved ejection fraction, or those with ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Addition of suPAR to a model including BNP levels significantly improved the C-statistic for death (Δ0.027), cardiovascular death (Δ0.017) and hospitalization for HF (Δ0.017). ConclusionsSuPAR levels are higher in HF compared to non-HF, are strongly predictive of outcomes, and combined with BNP, significantly improved risk prediction. Lay Summary•Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a circulating protein of immune origin notorious for its involvement in kidney disease, and which levels have been found to predict the onset of heart failure.•Given the pathophysiologic link between heart failure and kidney disease, we sought to examine suPAR levels in patients with heart failure.•We measured suPAR in 1116 patients with heart failure, and found that levels were strongly predictive of outcomes independently of risk factors and above and beyond the myocardial marker BNP. SuPAR level may be useful as an adjunctive measure for risk stratification of patients with heart failure.

Correlation and Prognostic Action of SAA, Hcy, and BNP Levels with the Condition of Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Objective To explore the correlation of serum amyloid A (SAA), homocysteine (Hcy), and plasma B-type brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) and their predictive value for the status and prognosis of SICH patients. Methods 82 SICH patients admitted to our hospital from March 2017 to March 2020 were selected. According to the Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, the patients were divided into GCS > 8 group (n = 44) and the GCS ≤ 8 group (n = 38). Based on the bleeding volume, the patients were divided into the massive bleeding group (>30 ml) (n = 21), the moderate bleeding group (10∼30 ml) (n = 28), and the small bleeding group (<10 ml) (n = 33). Based on the prognostic status of patients after 28 days of admission, they were divided into the survival group (n = 64) and the death group (n = 18). Serum SAA, Hcy, and plasma BNP levels of patients in different groups were compared, and the correlation between serum SAA, Hcy and plasma BNP levels with GCS score, cerebral hemorrhage, and the prognostic value of patients was analyzed. Results Serum SAA, Hcy, and plasma BNP levels in patients with GCS ≤ 8 groups were higher than those in GCS > 8 groups (P < 0.05). Serum SAA, Hcy, and plasma BNP levels of patients in the massive bleeding group were higher than those in the moderate and small bleeding groups. Besides, the level of serum SAA, Hcy, and plasma BNP in the moderate bleeding group was higher than that in the small bleeding group (P < 0.05). Serum SAA, Hcy and plasma BNP levels of patients were negatively correlated with GCS scores but positively correlated with bleeding volume (P < 0.05). The levels of serum SAA, Hcy and plasma BNP in dead patients were higher than those in the survival patients (P < 0.05). The combined prediction of serum SAA, Hcy, and plasma BNP for the prognosis of SICH patients was 0.910 (95% CI: 0.984∼0.837), which was higher than the serum SAA, Hcy, and plasma BNP alone predicted AUC 0.679 (95% CI: 0.564∼0.795), 0.720 (95% CI: 0.603∼0.836), and 0.726 (95% CI: 0.616∼0.849). Conclusion The levels of serum SAA, Hcy, and plasma BNP have a correlation with the severity and prognosis of patients with SICH, which is a feasible index for judging the prognosis of SICH. The levels of serum SAA, Hcy, and plasma BNP are conducive to timely judgment of the progression and prognosis of SICH patients.

Early Experience of Tafamidis Treatment in Japanese Patients With Wild-Type Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis From the Kochi Amyloidosis Cohort.

Tafamidis has emerged as an effective treatment for patients with wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTRwt CA). The early experience of tafamidis treatment for Japanese patients with ATTRwt CA is reported here. Over the past 2 years, in 82 patients with ATTRwt CA (mean age of 81.7±6.0 years), tafamidis treatment was initiated for 38 patients. The remaining 44 patients were not administered tafamidis. The most frequent reason for non-administration of tafamidis was advanced heart failure and the second most reason was the patient's frailty. In patients who received tafamidis treatment, there was no discontinuation of tafamidis due to adverse events, the rate of cardiovascular-related hospitalizations per year was 0.19, and the 1-year survival rate was 92%. In the patients who continued tafamidis for 12-18 months, there was no significant deterioration from baseline for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T level, plasma B-type natriuretic peptide level, left ventricular ejection fraction, inter-ventricular septum wall thickness, or value of left ventricular longitudinal strain. Tafamidis treatment was introduced for approximately half of the study patients with ATTRwt CA in real-world practice. Tafamidis is likely to be safe and may maintain the status of disease severity in the short-term in selected Japanese patients with ATTRwt CA. Further research is needed to determine appropriate patient selection for tafamidis treatment and efficacy of tafamidis in the long term.

β-Blockers are associated with increased B-type natriuretic peptide levels differently in men and women in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

β-Blocker (BB) use is a mainstay for the treatment of heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), whereas its efficacy for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains controversial. Women outnumber men in HFpEF, whereas men outnumber women in HFrEF. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is established as a biomarker for HF. We examined whether BB use is associated with plasma BNP levels differently in men and women with HFpEF. The study subjects comprised 721 patients with HFpEF [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50%] (184 men, mean age 78.2 ± 9.2 yr and 537 women, mean age 83.1 ± 8.8 yr), 179 on BB (66 men and 113 women) and 542 no BB (118 men and 424 women), 583 in sinus rhythm (SR) and 138 in atrial fibrillation (AF). A multivariable logistic regression test was used. Plasma BNP levels were higher (P = 0.0005), systolic blood pressure and LVEF lower (P = 0.0003, and P = 0.0059, respectively) on BBs than on no BBs in women, whereas in men, plasma BNP levels, systolic blood pressure, and LVEF were not altered significantly (P = 0.0849, P = 0.9129, and P = 0.4718, respectively) on BBs compared with no BBs in patients with SR. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that BB use and women were a positive and a negative predictor for high BNP levels (P = 0.003 and P = 0.032, respectively) in SR but not in AF. BB use was associated with high-plasma BNP levels and lower LVEF in women but not in men with HFpEF and SR, suggesting that the pathogenesis and treatment of HFpEF may differ in men and women in SR.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Pathogenesis and treatment for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) may differ in men and women in sinus rhythm (SR).