ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Peak NT-proANP and NT-proBNP plasma levels after hospital admission may be of additional prognostic value in patients with acute decompensation of heart failure. The time-course of natriuretic plasma levels after hospital admission, and a possible influence of the underlying etiology on the time-course have not been sufficiently investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Natriuretic peptide plasma levels of 85 patients with decompensated heart failure from ischemic and non-ischemic origins were measured at baseline and at 12h after hospital admission. NT-proBNP plasma levels on admission were lower compared to 12-hour-plasma levels, whereas NT-proANP plasma levels on admission were higher compared to 12-hour-plasma levels. Twenty-six patients (31%) died within the first 30 days. In patients who died within the first 30 days after admission NT-proANP and NT-proBNP plasma levels on admission and 12h later were significantly higher compared to survivors. Irrespective of different etiologies NT-proANP on admission and NT-proBNP 12h after admission were highest and demonstrated superior impact with respect to the prediction of 30-day-mortality. CONCLUSIONS: NT-proANP and NT-proBNP are powerful markers of 30-day-mortality in patients with acute heart failure of ischemic and non-ischemic origins. With respect to the prediction of 30-day-mortality, NT-proBNP plasma levels at 12h after admission are comparable with NT-proANP plasma levels on admission. These data underline the fact that with regard to etiology-dependent hemodynamic changes and plasma half-time, the determination of peak plasma levels is of highest importance for the estimation of the impact of natriuretic peptides on the prognosis of patients with decompensated heart failure.
