Association of elevated B-type natriuretic peptide levels with angiographic findings among patients with unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels would be associated with a greater severity of angiographic disease and a greater extent of myocardium at risk.


BACKGROUND
Elevations of BNP have been associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes in patients with unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (UA/NSTEMI).


METHODS
Of the 2,220 patients with UA/NSTEMI enrolled in the Treat Angina with Aggrastat and Determine Cost of Therapy with an Invasive or Conservative Strategy-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction-18 (TACTICS-TIMI-18) trial, 276 randomized to the invasive arm had both baseline BNP levels and angiographic core laboratory data. Patients were categorized according to their baseline BNP levels as < or =80 or >80 pg/ml.


RESULTS
A total of 233 patients (84%) had BNP levels >80 pg/ml, and 43 (16%) had admission BNP levels >80 pg/ml. Patients with BNP >80 pg/ml had tighter culprit vessel stenosis on quantitative coronary angiography (median stenosis 76% vs. 67%, p = 0.004) and a higher (slower) corrected TIMI frame count (median CTFC 43 vs. 30, p = 0.018) in the culprit vessel. The median BNP level was higher in patients with a left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) versus non-LAD culprit lesion location (median BNP level 40 vs. 24 pg/ml, p = 0.005), and the culprit artery was more often the LAD in patients with BNP >80 pg/ml compared with < or =80 pg/ml (44% vs. 30%, p = 0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
Among patients with UA/NSTEMI, elevated BNP levels are associated with tighter culprit stenosis, higher CTFC, and LAD involvement. These findings suggest that elevated BNP may be associated with a greater severity and extent of myocardial ischemic territory during the index event and may partly explain the association between elevated BNP and adverse outcomes.
Sadanandan
Saihari
S
Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. ssadanan@bidmc.harvard.edu
Cannon
Christopher P
CP
Chekuri
Kasi
K
Murphy
Sabina A
SA
Dibattiste
Peter M
PM
Morrow
David A
DA
de Lemos
James A
JA
Braunwald
Eugene
E
Gibson
C Michael
CM
D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain