title: [Stability of NT-ProBNP in patients with systolic heart failure].
abstract: Natriuretic peptides are extremely useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with heart failure. However, it is not clear whether their values are stable. We carried out a prospective study of 30 consecutive ambulatory patients (mean age, 62.6 [12.2] years) with stable systolic heart failure, as determined by the 6-minute walk test, who were in New York Heart Association class II or III and who had a left ventricular ejection fraction <30% (mean ejection fraction, 24.2% [6.68%]). At baseline, the mean N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and the mean distance walked in 6 minutes were 2237.3 pg/mL and 348.26 m, respectively. At 3-month follow-up, the corresponding values were 2096.2 pg/mL and 372.05 m, respectively. No significant difference was observed in NT-proBNP level or in distance walked in 6 minutes between baseline and 3 months (P=.8). Overall, there was a good correlation (r=0.94; P< .001) between the plasma NT-proBNP level at baseline and at 3 months in patients with stable chronic heart failure due to systolic dysfunction in New York Heart Association class II or III.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain. jimeneznavarro@secardiologia.es
authors.forename: Manuel F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Navarro
authors.forename: María A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fernández-Moyano
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Franco
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gómez-Doblas
authors.forename: Encarnación
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molero
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gómez-Hernández
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morell
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Teresa-Galván
mesh_terms: D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D049449:Luminescence; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013599:Systole; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain