Elevated levels of brain natriuretic peptide as a predictor of impaired coronary endothelial function in patients with left ventricular remodeling.
BACKGROUND
Plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) correlate with left ventricular remodeling, but the relationship between BNP induction and coronary function remains unclear.


OBJECTIVE
The present study assessed BNP production in response to left ventricular enlargement and investigated the relationship between BNP production and coronary vasodilating function in patients with left ventricular remodeling.


METHODS
Patients (n = 63) with normal or mildly diseased coronary arteries underwent Doppler flow study of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Vascular reactivity was examined using intracoronary acetylcholine, papaverine and nitroglycerin using a Doppler guidewire.


RESULTS
Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension was positively correlated with BNP (r = 0.45, p < 0.001) in all patients. BNP was significantly and inversely correlated with percentage change in coronary artery diameter induced by acetylcholine (r = -0.56, p < 0.001) but not by nitroglycerin (r = -0.20, p = 0.28) in patients with left ventricular end-diastolic dimension > or = 55 mm (n = 32). By contrast, BNP was not significantly correlated with percentage change in coronary artery diameter induced by either acetylcholine or nitroglycerin in patients with left ventricular end-diastolic dimension < 55 mm (n = 31). Further, BNP was not correlated with the percentage change in coronary blood flow induced by acetylcholine or by papaverine in patients with or without left ventricular remodeling.


CONCLUSIONS
The elevation in plasma BNP levels that occurs in association with left ventricular enlargement is a predictor of impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in conductance coronary arteries.
Ninomiya
Yuichi
Y
Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Metabolic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kagoshima University.
Hamasaki
Shuichi
S
Ishida
Sanemasa
S
Kataoka
Tetsuro
T
Saihara
Keishi
K
Okui
Hideki
H
Orihara
Koji
K
Fukudome
Tsuyoshi
T
Shinsato
Takuro
T
Ichiki
Tomoko
T
Mizoguchi
Etsuko
E
Otsuji
Yutaka
Y
Tei
Chuwa
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014664:Vasodilation; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain