B-type natriuretic peptide and its molecular precursor in myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.
BACKGROUND
Plasma measurement of cardiac natriuretic peptides and their biosynthetic precursors is helpful in chronic heart failure patients. In contrast, information on circulating B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its molecular precursor (proBNP) in patients with cardiogenic shock is scarce. We therefore examined proBNP-derived peptides in plasma from patients with myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.


RESULTS
Patients were referred for early, invasive therapy because of myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (n = 13). Plasma proBNP was measured with an automated assay (NT-proBNP) and an in-house radioimmunoassay (proBNP); BNP concentrations were quantitated with an immunoradiometric assay. The median NT-proBNP concentration was 8.2-fold higher than the corresponding BNP concentration (873 pmol/L [range 41-12,486] versus 107 pmol/L [1-1041], P < .001). Moreover, the NT-proBNP concentration was 3.3-fold higher compared with proBNP (268 pmol/L [19-12,220], P < .01). Despite the molar differences, there was a strong correlation between NT-proBNP and proBNP (r = 0.84, P < .0001) and BNP (r = 0.82, P < .0001) concentrations. Gel filtration chromatography suggested that the proBNP immunoreactivity reflect a molecular form larger than the N-terminal 1-76 fragment.


CONCLUSIONS
The study reveals the plasma profile of proBNP-derived peptides during myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. Peripheral concentrations of NT-proBNP, proBNP, and BNP were highly correlated despite marked differences between assays. The results also suggest an increase in cardiac proBNP processing after myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock.
Hejmdal
Anders
A
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Boesgaard
Søren
S
Lindholm
Matias G
MG
Goetze
Jens Peter
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
D015415:Biomarkers; D011498:Protein Precursors; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain