Persistent high NTpro-BNP concentration as a negative prognostic factor in patients with decompensated heart failure.
BACKGROUND
Monitoring of natriuretic peptide concentration may be useful for the identification of high-risk patients presenting with decompensated chronic heart failure (CHF).


OBJECTIVE
Assessment of the predicting value of a significant decrease (by > or =20% vs. baseline) of N-terminal proBNP (NTpro-BNP, ROCHE) concentration during hospitalisation in patients with decompensated CHF.


METHODS
This study involved 54 patients admitted to our centre because of CHF decompensation. Concentration of NTpro-BNP was measured on admission and at discharge from hospital. Primary end-points of this study were overall mortality and mortality with a number of cardiovascular-related readmissions.


RESULTS
Mean NTpro-BNP concentration on admission was 7435+/-10040 pg/ml and at the time of discharge from hospital -- 4816+/-7822 pg/ml. In 31 (57%) patients a significant decrease (> or =20% vs baseline value) in NTpro-BNP level (mean: -58%+/-21%) was noted, while in the remainder (23 patients; 43%) neither an increase nor a decrease in NTpro-BNP levels was observed (mean: +72%+/-132%) despite optimal treatment and stabilisation of the clinical status. The mean follow-up duration was 358+/-240 days. Cox analysis showed that the absence of significant NTpro-BNP level decrease was associated with an increased risk of death -- RR: 3.69 (95% CI: 1.10-12.37; p=0.035) and was the single independent risk factor for readmission due to cardiovascular-related reasons and/or death -- RR: 2.29 (95% CI: 1.20-4.35; p=0.01). In the group of 23 patients with an increase or decrease in NTpro-BNP concentration of more than or equal to 20%, the survival rate was 65% vs. 87% in the remainder (p=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of a significant (> or =20%) decrease of NTpro-BNP level during hospitalisation correlates with a higher mortality and rate of readmissions. NTpro-BNP level monitoring may be of clinical importance for risk stratification in patients hospitalised for decompensated CHF.
Kubler
Piotr
P
Department of Cardiology, 4th Military Clinical Hospital, ul. Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland. pkubler@poczta.onet.pl
Petruk-Kowalczyk
Jolanta
J
Majda
Jacek
J
Reczuch
Krzysztof
K
Banasiak
Waldemar
W
Ponikowski
Piotr
P
D001685:Biological Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
D001685:Biological Factors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain