title: Natriuretic peptides in unstable coronary artery disease.
abstract: Patients with unstable coronary artery disease (CAD), i.e., unstable angina or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, vary widely in clinical presentation, prognosis and response to treatment. To select appropriate therapy, early risk stratification has become increasingly important. This review focuses on the emerging role of natriuretic peptides in the early assessment of patients with unstable CAD. We conclude that levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are strongly associated to mortality and the risk of future congestive heart failure, and carry important prognostic information independent from previously known risk factors in unstable CAD. There are some data indicating that these markers can also be helpful in the selection of appropriate therapy in these patients but further studies are needed. Before a routine use of BNP or NT-proBNP in unstable CAD can be recommended, the cost-effectiveness of adding these new markers to the currently routine markers and their impact on selection of treatment needs further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Cardiology and Uppsala Research Center, Sweden. tomas.jernberg@medsci.uu.se
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jernberg
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Bertil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindahl
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stridsberg
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Venge
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wallentin
mesh_terms: D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides