title: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction in patients on long-term beta-adrenergic receptor blocker therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) appears to be a strong risk marker of mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, little information is available on NT-proBNP as a predictor of long-term serious cardiovascular events beyond that of left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), most of them treated with an early invasive strategy and on a uniform optimal secondary preventive medication including long-term beta-adrenergic receptor blockade.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prognostic impact of plasma NT-proBNP in patients with AMI who received optimal medical treatment including long-term beta-adrenergic receptor blockade.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma NT-proBNP was measured in 219 patients (age range 31-80 years) with AMI at baseline, and then followed for a median duration of 1.63 years. The first occurrences of a serious cardiovascular event including cardiac mortality, nonfatal MI, and congestive heart failure were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety serious cardiovascular events occurred. Left ventricular ejection fraction and reperfusion therapy with thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention were identified as confounders. When adjusting for these factors in multivariate analysis, NT-proBNP was a strong predictor of serious cardiovascular events in patients with a plasma NT-proBNP of >162.2 pmol/l and aged <60 years (p = 0.001). The incidence rate was related to increasing NT-proBNP (p = 0.0017). The risk of serious cardiovascular events was higher in patients with NT-proBNP levels in the highest quartile (> or =162.2 pmol/l) than in those with levels in the three lowest quartiles (rate ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.6-3.9, p = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AMI patients with high plasma NT-proBNP seem to be at an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events, but only those < or =60 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology,Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Gisli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jonsson
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdelnoor
authors.forename: Sverre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landaas
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Sverre Erik
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kjeldsen
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Os
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Westheim
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain