title: Reduction of N terminal-pro-brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide levels with exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  N-terminal-pro-brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) is a peptide hormone released from ventricles in response to myocyte stretch. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of exercise training on plasma NT-pro-BNP to verify if this parameter could be used as a biological marker of left ventricular remodelling in myocardial infarction patients undergoing an exercise training programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients after myocardial infarction were enrolled into a cardiac rehabilitation programme, and were randomized in two groups of 22 patients each. Group A patients followed a 3-month exercise training programme, while group B patients received only routine recommendations. All patients underwent NT-pro-BNP assay, and cardiopulmonary exercise test before hospital discharge and after 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Group A, exercise training reduced NT-pro-BNP levels (from 1498+/-438 to 470+/-375 pg/ml, P=0.0026), increased maximal (VO2peak+4.3+/-2.9 ml/kg per min, P<0.001; Powermax+38+/-7, P<0.001) exercise parameters and work efficiency (Powermax/VO2peak+1.3+/-0.4 Power/ml per kg per min, P<0.001); there was also an inverse correlation between changes in NT-pro-BNP levels and in VO2peak (r=-0.72, P<0.001), E-wave (r=-0.51, P<0.001) and E/A ratio (r=0.59, P<0.001). In group B, at 3 months, no changes were observed in NT-pro-BNP levels, exercise and echocardiographic parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three months exercise training in patients with moderate left ventricular systolic dysfunction after myocardial infarction induced a reduction in NT-pro-BNP levels, an improvement of exercise capacity and early left ventricular diastolic filling, without negative left ventricular remodelling. Whether the reduction of NT-pro-BNP levels could be useful as a surrogate marker of favourable left ventricular remodelling at a later follow-up remains to be further explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Cardiovascular and Immunological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. giallauria@libero.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giallauria
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Lorenzo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pilerci
authors.forename: Athanasio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manakos
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucci
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Psaroudaki
authors.forename: Mariantonietta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Del Forno
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vigorito
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain