title: N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) Levels are Increased in Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack Accompanied by Nonfocal Symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transient nonfocal neurological symptoms may serve as markers of cardiac dysfunction. We assessed whether serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, a biomarker of cardiac disease, are increased in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) accompanied by nonfocal symptoms and in patients with attacks of nonfocal symptoms (transient neurological attack [TNA]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 15 patients with TNA, 69 with TIA accompanied by nonfocal symptoms, 58 with large-vessel TIA, 32 with cardioembolic TIA, and 46 age- and sex-matched healthy control participants. Serum NT-proBNP levels were determined within 1 week after the attack. We compared log-transformed NT-proBNP levels of patients with cardioembolic TIAs and mixed or nonfocal TNAs, with those of patients with noncardioembolic TIAs as a reference group. Adjustments for age, sex, atrial fibrillation, and a history of nonischemic heart disease were made with a multiple linear regression model. Compared with large-vessel TIA (mean 14.2 pmol/L), mean NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in patients with TIA accompanied by nonfocal symptoms (40.5 pmol/L, P=0.049) and with cardioembolic TIA (123.5 pmol/L; P=0.004) after adjustments for age, sex, atrial fibrillation, and a history of nonischemic heart disease. Patients with TNA also had higher mean NT-proBNP levels (20.8 pmol/L, P=0.38) than those with large-vessel TIA, but this difference was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NT-proBNP levels are increased in patients with TIA accompanied by nonfocal symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands (G.J.P., S.D.J., H.M.H.).
authors.forename: Gerben J J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Plas
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands (G.J.P., S.D.J., H.M.H.).
authors.forename: Susanne D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Jurg
authors.affiliation: Medical School Twente, Medical Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands (M.B.K.).
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brusse-Keizer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D., P.J.K., H.M.H.).
authors.forename: Diederik W J
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Dippel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D., P.J.K., H.M.H.).
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Koudstaal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands (G.J.P., S.D.J., H.M.H.) Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.J.D., P.J.K., H.M.H.).
authors.forename: Heleen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: den Hertog
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003221:Confusion / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D004244:Dizziness / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
keywords: N‐terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide; cardiac origin; nonfocal symptoms; transient neurological attacks; transient nonfocal neurological symptoms