title: NT-proBNP is associated with SYNTAX score and aortic distensibility in patients with stable CAD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A high N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level provides significant prognostic information on patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). It is unclear whether aortic distensibility (AD), which reflects the aortic stiffness, and the extent and complexity of CAD, assessed with the SYNTAX score (SS), affect the secretion of NT-proBNP in stable CAD. We aimed to investigate the relationship between NT-proBNP levels and AD as well as with the extent and complexity of CAD in stable CAD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 411 patients with stable CAD (mean age = 61.7 ± 9.9 years, male/female = 247/164). The patients were divided into two groups according to the median NT-proBNP value (NT-proBNPlow group < 114 pg/ml and NT-proBNPhigh group ≥ 114 pg/ml). AD was calculated from the echocardiographically derived ascending aorta diameters and hemodynamic pressure measurements. Coronary angiography was performed and SS was determined in all patients. NT-proBNP and other biochemical markers were measured in all subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AD and ejection fraction values of the NT-proBNPhigh group were lower and their SS levels were higher compared with those from the NT-proBNPlow group (p < 0.05, for all). The NT-proBNP level was independently associated with AD (β = -0.378, p < 0.001), SS (β = 0.262, p < 0.001), and ejection fraction (β = - 0.295, p < 0.001) on multiple linear regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NT-proBNP was independently associated with an impaired elastic property of the aorta and with the extent and complexity of CAD as well as with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Adana, Turkey, dysahin79@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gür
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Elbasan
authors.forename: N Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Koyunsever
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Türkoğlu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akyol
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yıldırım
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gözübüyük
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozaltun
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caylı
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain