title: Short term prognostic role of NT-proBNP in patients after myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The clinical and prognostic role of cardiac natriuretic peptides (CNP) in patients with heart failure is well known; recently, several studies have evaluated the possibility of using CNP to evaluate their potential prognostic role in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the short term prognostic value of NT-proBNP in 70 patients admitted for ACS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors studied 70 patients with ACS, evaluating, at admission, clinical-anamnestic, instrumental and laboratory characteristics including NT-proBNP plasma levels. Patients were monitored in a 6-month-follow-up to record adverse fatal events and their possible correlation with baseline characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of adverse events during the follow-up period was 28% (10 patients). In patients with adverse events, the authors observed lower left ventricle ejection fraction (P=0.01), higher prevalence of ST elevation myocardial infarction (P=0.03) and higher NT-proBNP levels (P=0.03), compared to those without adverse events. Moreover, the logistic regression analysis underlined how ST elevation myocardial infarction (P=0.05) and higher NT-proBNP levels (P=0.05) were the only predictive variables for adverse events during the follow up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the short term prognostic role of NT-pro BNP in patients admitted for ACS.
authors.affiliation: Secondary Prevention, Unit of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Paolo Giaccone Policlinic, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. g.coppola@unipa.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Augugliaro
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mulè
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotolo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciaramitaro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farinella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Evola
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evola
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andolina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cospite
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Assennato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood*; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain