Use of NT-proBNP in routine testing and comparison to BNP.
OBJECTIVE
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a strong diagnostic predictor of left-ventricular (LV)-dysfunction. Recently, the aminoterminal portion of pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) has been introduced, which could be even more sensitive because of its longer half-life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the new marker NT-proBNP within a large, heterogeneous population of patients with suspected cardiovascular disease at risk of cardiovascular dysfunction and to compare it with the established diagnostic parameter BNP.


METHODS
NT-proBNP and BNP were measured in 339 hospitalised patients undergoing diagnostic angiography (median age 66 years, 244 male vs. 95 female).


RESULTS
Median values of NT-proBNP increased with worsening LV-dysfunction and higher NYHA class. The area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (AUC) of NT-proBNP for detecting severe systolic dysfunction or for detecting any systolic LV-dysfunction was 0.83 and 0.77, respectively. The latter improved (AUC=0.81) when patients with clinically relevant heart disease like valvular dysfunction were included, independent of the haemodynamic values. Compared to BNP, NT-proBNP tended to be more accurate in identifying lesser degrees of LV-dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
Even after optimisation of target criteria, there was still a substantial overlap of NT-proBNP values between patients with and without relevant heart disease. Therefore, NT-proBNP is not suitable as a screening test for LV-dysfunction in the community. Nevertheless, because of its good negative predictive value, NT-proBNP could be an easy and effective tool to rule out severe systolic LV-dysfunction in high risk patients. No clinically significant advantage of BNP testing could be found.
Pfister
R
R
Department III of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Josef-Stelzmann Str. 9, 50924 Cologne, Germany.
Scholz
M
M
Wielckens
K
K
Erdmann
E
E
Schneider
C A
CA
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain