title: Analysis of N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide and C-reactive protein for risk stratification in stable and unstable coronary artery disease: results from the AtheroGene study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) is a reliable risk predictor in acute coronary artery disease (CAD). Little is known about patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP). We aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of Nt-proBNP in a population with CAD especially focussing on patients with SAP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We obtained baseline samples from a prospective cohort of 904 consecutive patients with CAD. Cardiovascular events were registered during follow-up (median 2 years; maximum 3.7 years). Baseline Nt-proBNP was significantly higher among individuals with cardiovascular events compared with those without (711.5 vs. 238.8 pg/mL; P<0.0001). A similar association was found if the analysis was performed in patients who presented with stable angina (330 vs. 166.5 pg/mL; P=0.006) or acute coronary syndrome (990.9 vs. 527.7 pg/mL; P=0.03). In the SAP group, patients within the top quartile (>487.9 pg/mL) had a 3.7-fold (95% CI 1.2-9.1; P=0.01) increase in cardiovascular risk. After adjustment for most potential confounders including left ventricular ejection fraction, Nt-proBNP remained predictive for patients with serum concentrations in the upper quartile in comparison with patients in the lowest quartile (hazard ratio highest vs. lowest quartile: 4.0; P=0.03) (n=417).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baseline concentration of Nt-proBNP is independently related to future cardiovascular events in patients with stable angina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany. schnabelr@web.de
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schnabel
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
authors.forename: Karl J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lubos
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bickel
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Münzel
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cambien
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tiret
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blankenberg
mesh_terms: D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002097:C-Reactive Protein