Changes in brain natriuretic peptide and norepinephrine over time and mortality and morbidity in the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT).
BACKGROUND
Neurohormones are considered markers of heart failure progression. We examined whether changes in brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and norepinephrine (NE) over time are associated with corresponding changes in mortality and morbidity in the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial.


RESULTS
Plasma BNP and NE were measured before randomization and during follow-up in approximately 4300 patients in the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial. The relation between baseline BNP and NE and all-cause mortality and first morbid event (M&M) was analyzed in subgroups, with values above and below the median, and by quartiles. The change and percent change from baseline to 4 and 12 months in BNP and NE were also analyzed by quartiles for subsequent M&M. Risk ratios for M&M were calculated using a Cox proportional hazard model. Risk ratio of M&M for patients with baseline BNP or NE above the median was significantly higher than that for patients with values below the median. Baseline BNP and NE in quartiles also showed a quartile-dependent increase in M&M. BNP had a stronger association with M&M than NE. Patients with the greatest percent decrease in BNP and NE from baseline to 4 and 12 months had the lowest whereas patients with greatest percent increase in BNP and NE had the highest M&M.


CONCLUSIONS
Not only are plasma BNP and NE important predictors of heart failure M&M, but changes in these neurohormones over time are associated with corresponding changes in M&M. These data further reinforce their role as significant surrogate markers in HF and underscore the importance of including their measurement in HF trials.
Anand
Inder S
IS
VA Medical Center and University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn 55417, USA. anand001@tc.umn.edu
Fisher
Lloyd D
LD
Chiang
Yann-Tong
YT
Latini
Roberto
R
Masson
Serge
S
Maggioni
Aldo P
AP
Glazer
Robert D
RD
Tognoni
Gianni
G
Cohn
Jay N
JN
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068756:Valsartan
D015415:Biomarkers; D013777:Tetrazoles; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D000068756:Valsartan; D014633:Valine; D009638:Norepinephrine