ABSTRACT
AIM: We investigated if the baseline value of mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (NP), N-terminal pro-B-type NP and copeptin may be helpful in optimizing ß-blocker uptitration in elderly patients with heart failure. PATIENTS & METHODS: According to the biomarkers' levels, 457 patients were divided into three subgroups and compared with each other at baseline and 3 months after. RESULTS: All mid-regional pro-atrial NP and N-terminal pro-B-type NP subgroups had significant amelioration of left ventricle ejection fraction and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class after 3 months of ß-blocker uptitration (p < 0.001). More prominent improvement of left ventricle ejection fraction and New York Heart Association class was observed in subgroups with lower versus higher NPs levels. CONCLUSION: NPs levels, unlike copeptin levels, might be useful tool for objective selection of elderly heart failure patients who could have the greatest benefit of forced uptitration.
