Prognostic value of NT-proBNP at rest and peak exercise in patients with impaired left ventricular function

• Published in: Angiology Vol. 63; no. 7; p. 516
• Main Authors: Kallistratos, Manolis S, Pavlidis, Antonios N, Chamodraka, Eytixia S, Varounis, Christos, Dritsas, Athanasios, Laoutaris, Ioannis D, Manolis, Athanasios J, Cokkinos, Dennis V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biomarkers - blood; Echocardiography; Exercise Test; Female; Heart Failure, Systolic - blood; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain - blood; Oxygen - blood; Peptide Fragments - blood; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Rest; Stroke Volume - physiology; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - blood
• ISSN: 1940-1574
• DOI: 10.1177/0003319711429328

We aimed to identify whether N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) at peak exercise can provide incremental clinical information over resting levels. A total of 90 patients with systolic heart failure were prospectively studied. Levels of plasma NT-proBNP were assessed at rest and at peak exercise during a cardiopulmonary exercise test. Patients were followed-up for 30 ± 10 months. Levels of NT-proBNP at baseline and peak exercise were significantly correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction ([LVEF] r = -.629, P < .001 and r = -.630, P < .001, respectively) and peak oxygen uptake ([Vo (2)] r = -.752, P < .001 and r = -.740, P < .001, respectively). Levels of plasma NT-proBNP at peak exercise demonstrated similar predictive ability for the detection of patients with low peak Vo (2) and LVEF <28%. Levels of plasma NT-proBNP can detect low-functional class patients and patients who may be the candidates for heart transplantation with high sensitivity and specificity. At baseline and peak exercise, NT-proBNP demonstrates similar prognostic and predictive ability.