title: NT-ProBNP serum levels reflect severity and extent of ischemia in patients admitted with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relationship between NT-proBNP elevation and prognosis in patients with NSTEACS.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  High NT-proBNP levels are related to a worse prognosis in patients with ACS. The precise mechanism by which is not clear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial sampling of NT-proBNP, Troponin T and CK-MB was performed in 23 patients admitted with NSTEACS. Using coronary angiography in each patient a culprit lesion was identified. Proximal lesions were located before or at the first major branch of the parent artery. All other lesions localizations were considered distal. To evaluate the influence of left ventricular systolic function on NT-proBNP levels WMSI was measured by echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proximal culprit lesion localization was associated with significant higher baseline (mean 506 ng/l, SD 440 ng/l) and peak NT-proBNP levels (mean 1055 ng/l; SD 236 ng/l), as compared to patients with a distal lesion localization. (Baseline: 139 ng/l, SD 140 ng/l, peak: 381 ng/l; SD 64 ng/l). (P = 0.01) NT-proBNP levels were highly correlated to Troponin T and CK-MB peak serum levels. Adjustments for left ventricular dysfunction did not alter these associations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High peak NT-proBNP levels are independently associated with both proximal culprit localization and elevated biochemical markers of myocardial damage. These findings suggest that NT-proBNP levels reflect the amount of jeopardized myocardium and could signify the integral of the extent and severity of an ischemic event.
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam Department of Interventional Cardiology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Riezebos
authors.forename: Eelko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ronner
authors.forename: Jan G P
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Tijssen
authors.forename: Gert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Laarman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D019210:Troponin I; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form