title: The effect of syncope on brain natriuretic peptide.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) may be a good prognostic marker in syncope. The aim of this study was to establish whether there is any change in BNP in association with an acute presentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients aged ≥60 years admitted following presentation to the emergency department (ED) with syncope were eligible for prospective enrolment. Serial BNP measurements were performed on admission and at intervals up to 4 weeks after presentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 8 March 2010 and 14 April 2010, 31 patients were recruited and were suitable for analysis, including seven patients who returned to the ED at 4 weeks. Mean BNP rose from a baseline of 167.8 ng/ml to a peak of 303.2 ng/ml at 48 h and then returned to baseline at 4 weeks. BNP ratio reached 2.3 (more than twice admission level) at 18 h and peaked at 2.4 at 1 week before returning to baseline at 4 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BNP seems to rise from baseline to a peak between 18 h and 1 week after an acute syncopal episode in many patients. The reasons for this are not clear.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine Research Group, Department of Emergency Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. matthew.reed@luht.scot.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013575:Syncope / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain