Relationship between serum N-terminal Pro Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-Pro BNP) level and the severity of coronary artery involvements

BACKGROUND: Rapid measuring of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in the emergency departments effectively results in evaluating patients with acute cardiac attacks and has appeared to be a useful prognostic marker of cardiovascular risk. A current study came to address the association between plasma N-terminal pro BNP level and severity of coronary vessels' defects based on Gensini score in patients with stable angina pectoris candidate for coronary angiography. METHODS: The study population consisted of 92 consecutive patients with appearance of stable angina and candidate for coronary angiography. All participants underwent selective left and right coronary angiography. For BNP measurement and just before the catheterization of left coronary, 5cc blood samples were drawn from coronary. RESULTS: With respect to the role of N terminal pro BNP for predicting severity of CAD based on Gensini scoring, linear regression analysis confirmed that plasma BNP level was a strong predictor for CAD severity (p = 0.009) in the presence of study cofounders. A significant correlation was also observed between N terminal pro BNP and left ventricular ejection fraction, so that all patients with left ventricular dysfunction (EF < 40%) had plasma N terminal pro BNP level higher than 100 pg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: NT-pro BNP can be a good parameter for predicting the severity of coronary vessels' involvement besides other diagnostic tools. In all patients with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, plasma NT-pro BNP level was higher than 100 pg/ml.