title: Plasma Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) as an Indicator of Left Ventricular Function, Early Outcome and Mechanical Complications after Acute Myocardial Infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the prognostic value of B type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and its relation with left ventricular function and post-myocardial infarction complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, plasma BNP level was measured for 42 consecutive patients (mean ± SD: 61.6 ± 10.85 years old) with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) and 42 healthy, age and gender matched subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BNP level in AMI patients were significantly higher than control group (P < 0.001). Regarding to infarct location, the highest BNP level measured in inferoposterior MI (BNP = 4436.63 ± 6188.159 pg/ml) and the lowest one indicated in standalone inferior MI (BNP = 598.83 ± 309.867 pg/ml (P = 0.071). There was significant reverse relation between BNP and EF (P = 0.006, OR = -0.47) and a significant relationship between BNP and killip classification (P = 0.036). There was no significant relation between diastolic and right-ventricular function and BNP level (P = 0.61, P = 0.21). The highest BNP level was detected in LV septal rupture and false aneurysm (P = 0.02) and in ventricular tachycardia, but without significant relationship (P = 0.25).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After the onset of AMI, BNP blood level can be used as an important predictor for left ventricular dysfunction, killip classification, early mechanical complications and cardiac death.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fazlinezhad
authors.forename: M Khadem
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Rezaeian
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yousefzadeh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghaffarzadegan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khajedaluee