title: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide is associated with severity of the coronary lesions in unstable angina patients with preserved left ventricular function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) values and the severity of coronary lesions at angiography in unstable angina patients with preserved left ventricular function.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 133 patients with primary diagnosis of unstable angina were enrolled into this study. NT-proBNP level was determined before the angiography and Gensini score, a measurement of extent of myocardial ischemia, was calculated after the angiography by experienced cardiologists. Patients with >50% stenosis of the left main or 75% stenosis of one or more coronary branches with diameter >2 mm were defined as "angiography positive" and turned to percutaneous coronary intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference of circulating NT-proBNP level between the angiography positive and negative groups and the median NT-proBNP values were 367.5 pg/mL and 112 pg/mL, respectively (P < 0.001). A significant correlation was observed between log NT-proBNP and log Gensini score (P < 0.001). NT-proBNP level was a predictor of angiography positive result and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.776 (95% CI 0.693-0.858).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NT-proBNP level was found to be higher with the severity of myocardial ischemia. However, the ability of NT-proBNP to identify clinically significant angiographic lesions was moderate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hangzhou No. 1 Municipal Hospital and Affiliated Hangzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Gao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ningfu
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xianhua
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jianmin
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guoxin
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain