Prognostic value of N-terminal proatrial natriuretic factor plasm levels measured within the first 12 hours after myocardial infarction

Objectives. The aim of the present study was to examine the relation between the plasm levels of the atrial peptide N-terminal proatrial natriuretic factor (proANF) measured during the 1st 12 h after myocardial infarction and 1-year mortality. Background. The atrial peptides atrial natriuretic factor and N-terminal proANF are released from cardiac atri secondary to increased atrial pressures. The plasm levels of both peptides have been found to be related to long-term prognosis when measured in the subacute phase of myocardial infarction. Methods. The study was of retrospective case-control design studying patients enrolled in the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) II trial. Seventy-six patients who died within the 1st year of enrollment in the trial were matched with another 76 patients who survived. N-terminal proANF was analyzed by radioimmunoassay at enrollment (no later than 4 h after the start of chest pain) and at 50 min, 5 h and 8 h after enrollment. Results. At all studied time points the peptide levels were significantly higher in the case group than in the control group. At 8 h after enrollment, an N-terminal proANF value above cutoff point of 1,500 pmol/liter was associated with an odds ratio for death of 3.9. Conclusions. The plasm level of N-terminal proANF, when measured during the 1st 12 h after the onset of chest pain, is related to 1-year mortality after myocardial infarction. Together with previous findings, these results suggest that N-terminal proANF measurements represent valuable supplement to currently used prognostic indicators after myocardial infarction.