N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for predicting silent myocardial ischaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus independent of microalbuminuria.
BACKGROUND
In the early identification of cardiovascular risk, it is essential to establish a biological marker for cardiac complications that is comparable to albuminuria for nephropathy. We tested the hypothesis that N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) might be a marker for silent myocardial ischaemia in diabetes.


METHODS
In forty consecutively recruited subjects without evident coronary artery disease, serum NT-proBNP was measured together with multi-slice computed tomography. With patients suspected of having significant coronary artery stenosis by multi-slice computed tomography, coronary angiography was performed. Silent myocardial ischaemia was defined as the presence of significant coronary artery stenosis with more than 50% luminal narrowing by angiography.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients (32.5%) had silent myocardial ischaemia. NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in these patients (181.1 ± 43.8 versus 55.2 ± 9.7 pg/mL, p < 0.005) but HbA(1c), lipid profiles, and creatinine were similar in the two groups. Moreover, log NT-proBNP was identified as an independent predictor of silent myocardial ischaemia (R(2) = 0.502, p < 0.05) after adjustment for HbA(1c), creatinine, albuminuria, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, or smoking. After stratifying patients by NT-proBNP, the upper tertile compared to the lowest tertile was significantly associated with silent myocardial ischaemia (odds ratio: 26.7, p < 0.05). Receiver operation characteristics analysis with a cut-off value of 52 pg/mL showed 92% sensitivity and 75% specificity for predicting silent myocardial ischaemia (positive predictive value 64.7%, negative predictive value 94.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
The outstandingly high negative predictive value of NT-proBNP enables us to focus on diabetic patients with occult coronary disease, independently of microalbuminuria.
Hamano
Kumiko
K
Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Yamazaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
Abe
Mariko
M
Komi
Rieko
R
Kobayashi
Shuzo
S
D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D003404:Creatinine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76)