title: Increased plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with unstable angina.
abstract: This study was designed to examine the plasma levels of B-type or brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), as well as A-type or atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in patients with unstable angina as compared with those in patients with stable exertional angina and control subjects. We measured the plasma levels of BNP and ANP in 33 patients with unstable angina, 20 patients with stable exertional angina, and 20 control subjects. The plasma levels of BNP were significantly increased in patients with unstable angina compared with those in patients with stable exertional angina and control subjects, respectively (39.5 +/- 29.4 pg/ml vs 15.1 +/- 8.0 pg/ml; p < 0.01 and 39.5 +/- 29.4 pg/ml vs 10.3 +/- 6.4 pg/ml; p < 0.01, respectively). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the plasma levels of ANP among the three groups. Furthermore, in patients with unstable angina, the plasma levels of BNP decreased significantly after the medical treatment (from 39.5 +/- 29.4 pg/ml to 15.8 +/- 11.0 pg/ ml; p < 0.01), whereas the plasma levels of ANP did not change. We conclude that the plasma levels of BNP are increased in the majority of patients with unstable angina and that the increased levels decrease toward normal after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kikuta
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasue
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sumida
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kugiyama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005082:Physical Exertion
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor