Availability of Bedside N-terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide Measurement as Prognostic Marker About Development of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients of Acute Coronary Syndromes

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Natriuretic peptide levels are known to be associated with cardiac output and ventricular function. Recently it has been suggested that N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) is available as a prognostic marker for acute coronary syndrome patients. We compared NTpro- BNP levels between patients with and without major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) who visited the emergency room due to acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: We designed a case-only study with study subjects recruited retrospectively by medical chart review. Patients who visited the emergency room from 1 May 2006 to 31 February 2007 and were diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome were enrolled. Subjects who did not receive bedside measurement of NT-proBNP levels were excluded. To analyze by subtype of acute coronary syndrome, we classified study subjects into the following group ST elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, or unstable angina. RESULTS: The level of NT-proBNP was 2,592+/-917 pg/ml in MACEs patients, and 1,289+/-1,261 pg/ml in patients without MACEs, a statistically significant difference (p<0.0001). The MACEs patients showed higher level of NT-proBNP than patients without MACEs in the ST elevation myocardial infarction group (p=0.439), the non-ST elevation myocardial infarction group (p=0.004), and the unstable angina group (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Initial bedside NT-pro-BNP levels are higher in MACEs patients. Although the study size was small and the result should be carefully interpreted, it supports the hypothesis that NT-pro-BNP can as a marker to evaluate MACEs in acute coronary syndrome.