Factors affecting the B-type natriuretic peptide levels in stroke patients.
BACKGROUND
This study aims to evaluate the relationship between increased B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in stroke patients and clinical parameters such as age, sex, medical history, blood pressure, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).


METHODS
This is a prospective study of 123 stroke patients at the Emergency Department. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the NIHSS scores. The analysis of the mean difference between continuous variables and plasma BNP levels was assessed using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis. Spearman correlation analysis was performed for BNP and other clinical parameters.


RESULTS
The BNP levels of patients who had a medical history of hyperlipidaemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were significantly higher than in patients without these diseases. Patients who had atrial fibrillation (AF) in their electrocardiography had significantly higher BNP levels than patients with sinus rhythm. A positive correlation was found between plasma BNP levels with age, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and NIHSS and a negative correlation was found between plasma BNP levels and GCS. There was a significant difference between the BNP levels of NIHSS groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We consider that plasma BNP levels could help us in interpreting the general clinical severity, functional capacity and clinical progress of stroke patients at the time of admission in the Emergency Department. In evaluating the high BNP levels in stroke patients, we must keep in mind that age, AF, BUN and medical history can affect the BNP levels.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Ayhan
A
Saritas
Zeynep
Z
Cakir
Mucahit
M
Emet
Mustafa
M
Uzkeser
Ayhan
A
Akoz
Hamit
H
Acemoglu
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain