N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide on admission has prognostic value across the whole spectrum of acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of natriuretic peptide elevations in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is still incompletely defined. We measured N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) on admission in patients with ACS and ECG evidence of myocardial ischemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: The NT-proBNP was measured at a median time of 3 hours after symptom onset in 1756 patients. The outcome measure was death at 30 days, which occurred in 113 patients (6.4%). The median NT-proBNP level was 353 ng/L (107 to 1357 ng/L). Compared with the lowest quartile, patients in the second, third, and fourth quartiles had a relative risk of subsequent death of 2.94 (95% CI, 1.15 to 7.52), 5.32 (95% CI, 2.19 to 12.91), and 11.5 (95% CI, 4.90 to 26.87), respectively. The NT-proBNP was independently associated with death in a logistic regression model, which included clinical variables, ECG, and troponin T in patients either with (OR of highest versus lowest quartile, 7.0; 95% CI, 1.9 to 25.6) or without (OR of highest versus lowest quartile, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 14.6) persistent ST-segment elevation. NT-proBNP was also an independent predictor of severe heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of NT-proBNP on admission improves the early risk stratification of patients with ACS, suggesting the need for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.