Cystatin C-based CKD-EPI equations and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide for predicting outcomes in acutely decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: In patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), both natriuretic peptides and renal impairment predict adverse outcomes. Our aim was to evaluate the complementary prognosis role of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and the newly developed Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations based on cystatin C (CysC) for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation in ADHF patients. HYPOTHESIS: Renal impairment assessed by CysC-based CKD-EPI equations and natriuretic peptides have complementary prognostic value in ADHF patients. METHODS: The study included 613 consecutive patients presenting with ADHF. At admission, plasma levels of NT-proBNP and CysC were determined. The GFR was estimated using CysC-based CKD-EPI equations. The primary endpoint was death from any cause and heart failure readmission. RESULTS: During the median follow-up of 365 days (interquartile range, 227-441 days), 323 patients (0.65 %patient-year) died or were readmitted for heart failure. After multivariate adjustment, estimated GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and NT-proBNP >3251 pg/mL were independent predictors of adverse outcomes (P < 0.01). The combination of GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and NT-proBNP >3251 pg/mL was associated with the highest risk of adverse outcomes. Furthermore, reclassification analyses demonstrated that use of both NT-proBNP and CysC-based CKD-EPI equations resulted in improving the accuracy for adverse outcomes prediction. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ADHF, the combination of NT-proBNP with estimated GFR using CysC-based CKD-EPI equations better predicts outcomes than either parameter alone and adds valuable complementary prognosis information to other established risk factors.

Heart failure mortality according to acute variations in N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide and cystatin C levels.

AIM: Changes in N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and cystatin C (CysC) are predictors of adverse outcomes in acute heart failure. This study assess whether NT-proBNP variations might provide independent information in addition to that obtained from CysC levels. METHODS: NT-proBNP levels were assessed in patients admitted due to acute heart failure using an observational study. Patients were classified as follows: group 1, those with a decrease in NT-proBNP levels of at least 30% from admission to 4 weeks after discharge; group 2, those with no significant changes in levels; and group 3, those who showed an increase in NT-proBNP of 30%. A multivariable Cox regression model and c-statistics were used. The primary end-point was all-cause mortality at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 195 patients completed the follow-up. The mortality rate reached 20.5% (40 patients); 14 out of the 32 in group 3. The cumulative incidence of death, according to the change in NT-proBNP and Kaplan-Meier analysis, showed a significant increase in group 3 (log-rank P = 0.004). In the multivariable analysis, NT-proBNP variation for group 3 (hazard ratio 4.27; P <0.001) and for group 2 (hazard ratio 2.19; P = 0.043) in comparison with group 1 were independently associated with all-cause mortality, as well as anemia, hyponatremia, and admission CysC levels. Patients in group 3, and those with levels of serum CysC above the median, were also associated with slight increase in mortality. CONCLUSION: An increase of at least 30% in NT-proBNP levels after hospitalization is related to all-cause mortality in patients with acute heart failure and provides supplementary prognostic information in patients with high levels of CysC. A decrease in NT-proBNP of at least 30% is a desirable target to achieve.

Comparison of risk prediction with the CKD-EPI and MDRD equations in acute decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) more accurately than the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether CKD-EPI equations based on serum creatinine and/or cystatin C (CysC) predict risk for adverse outcomes more accurately than the MDRD equation in a hospitalized cohort of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 526 subjects with ADHF were studied. Blood was collected within 48 hours from admission. eGFR was calculated with the use of MDRD and CKD-EPI equations. The occurrences of mortality and heart failure (HF) hospitalization were recorded. Over the study period (median 365 days [interquartile range 238-370]), 305 patients (58%) died or were rehospitalized for HF. Areas under the receiver operator characteristic curves for CKD-EPI CysC and CKD-EPI creatinine-CysC equations were significantly higher than that for the MDRD equation, especially in patients with >60 mL min(-1) 1.73 m(-2). After multivariate adjustment, all eGFR equations were independent predictors of adverse outcomes (P < .001). However, only CKD-EPI CysC and CKD-EPI creatinine-CysC equations were associated with significant improvement in reclassification analyses (net reclassification improvements 10.8% and 12.5%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ADHF, CysC-based CKD-EPI equations were superior to the MDRD equation for predicting mortality and/or HF hospitalization especially in patients with >60 mL min(-1) 1.73 m(-2), and both CKD-EPI equations improved clinical risk stratification.

Comparison of pleural N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, midregion pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and mid-region pro-adrenomedullin for the diagnosis of pleural effusions associated with cardiac failure.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic utility of pleural fluid N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), midregion pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) and midregion pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) for discriminating heart failure (HF)-associated effusions. METHODS: NT-proBNP, MR-proANP and MR-proADM were measured by commercially available methodologies in the pleural fluid of a retrospective cohort of 185 consecutive patients with pleural effusions, of whom 95 had acute decompensated HF. Receiver-operating characteristic and area under the curve (AUC) analyses allowed comparisons of the discriminative properties of these biomarkers to be made at their optimal cut-off points. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP and MR-proANP for HF as quantified by the AUC was 0.935 and 0.918, respectively, whereas MR-proADM was of limited value (AUC = 0.62). A pleural fluid MR-proANP >260 pmol/L or NT-proBNP >1700 pg/mL argues for HF (likelihood ratio (LR) positive >5), while levels below these cut-off values significantly decrease the probability of having the disease (respective LR negative 0.19 and 0.10). The optimal cut-off points for natriuretic peptides were influenced by age, renal function and body mass index. Finally, both NT-proBNP and the albumin gradient correctly identified more than 80% of those cardiac effusions misclassified as exudates by standard criteria. CONCLUSIONS: MR-proANP is as valuable a diagnostic tool as NT-proBNP for diagnosing or excluding HF as the cause of pleural effusion.

Propeptide of procollagen type I (PIP) and outcomes in decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Changes in extracellular matrix are recognized as a contributing factor in the cardiac remodeling process. Several studies have addressed the value of turnover markers of collagen as predictors of death or new heart failure episodes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between peripheral serum concentration of propeptide of procollagen type I (PIP) and outcomes in patients with decompensated heart failure. METHODS: A total of 111 patients admitted to our Unit between September 2000 and May 2003 for decompensated heart failure were analyzed. Death from any cause or due to heart failure and readmission were considered primary endpoints. RESULTS: The mean PIP concentration was 80.84+/-36.40 ng/mL. The PIP serum level was significantly higher among those patients who suffered some endpoint during follow-up (88.12+/-37.31 ng/mL vs 73.13+/-34.06 ng/mL; p=0.029). Twenty-five (22.52%) of the 111 patients died during the 21 months of follow-up, and 54 (48.6%) were readmitted with new bouts of heart failure. Using Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, serum PIP levels, systolic dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus were identified as independent predictors of death. Serum PIP levels, age, and sex were independent predictors of new heart failure episodes and readmission. CONCLUSION: A single serum measurement of PIP seems to have prognostic value in patients with decompensated heart failure. Accordingly, patients with higher values of PIP at decompensation are at a higher risk of death or readmission during follow-up.