B-type natriuretic peptide levels predict extent and severity of coronary disease in non-ST elevation coronary syndromes and normal left ventricular systolic function.

BACKGROUND: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been used recently as a biological marker in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) with ST-elevation, as well as without ST-elevation. BNP is able to predict systolic dysfunction, adding new prognostic information to existing traditional markers. However is not known if there is a relation between the quantity of BNP levels and the severity of coronary artery disease. METHODS: This study compared B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients with stable angina (SA) and acute coronary syndromes (ACS) without ST-elevation in relation to angiographic lesions using TIMI and Gensini Scores. We studied 282 patients with CAD without ST elevation and preserved systolic function. BNP samples were measured in all recruited patients within 24 hours of hospitalization. RESULTS: BNP values were progressively increased in relation to the severity of diagnosis: SA (52.6±49.4 pg/mL ) UA (243.3±212 pg/mL) NSTE-ACS (421.7±334 pg/mL) (p<0.0001 and p<0.007 respectively). No statistically significant difference was observed between patients with SA and controls (21.2±6.8 pg/mL). The analysis of BNP levels in relation to the number of involved vessels demonstrated significantly increased levels in patients with multivessel disease compared to patients with 1 or 2 vessel disease (1-86.2±46.3 pg/mL; 2-127±297 pg/mL; 3-295±318 pg/mL; 4-297±347 pg/mL p<0.001 and p<0.003). Evaluation of BNP using Gensini Score showed a strong relation between BNP and coronary disease extension (r=0.38 p<0.0001).This trend was maintained in all CAD groups (SA=r 0.54; UA r=0.36 NSTE-ACS r=0.28). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating BNP levels appear elevated in ACS with diffuse coronary involvement, even in the absence of systolic dysfunction. BNP is also associated with multi-vessel disease and the extension of coronary disease

Renal dysfunction prevalence and clinical impact in heart failure

Alberto Palazzuoli, Susanna Benincasa, Stefanie Grothgar, Pasquale Di Sipio, Giovanni Paganini, Marco Pellegrini, Ranuccio NutiDepartment of Internal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases, Cardiology Section, Le Scotte Hospital, University of Siena, ItalyAbstract: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a significant increase in death and cardiovascular mortality. However the exact mechanism by which CKD impairs the cardiovascular outcome is not well established. Some reasons may lie in the association of CKD with several other cardiovascular and noncardiovascular disorders including accelerated systemic atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, increased levels of inflammatory factors, anemic status, bone mineral dysfunction, electrolyte imbalance, and renin&amp;ndash;angiotensin&amp;ndash;aldosterone system (RAAS) activation. Therefore several risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, lipid disorders, and older age are common in both conditions. In patients affected with heart failure (HF) a key role is represented by the neurohormonal activation. This condition causes fluid and sodium retention, peripheral vasoconstriction, as well as increased congestion and cardiac workload. Moreover, HF during the decompensated phases is often associated with a worsening renal function that leads to further RAAS activation, microvascular damage, and intrarenal flow redistribution. In order to clarify the interactions between these factors, several questions need to be answered: the universal definition of &amp;ldquo;worsening renal function,&amp;rdquo; the identification of the best laboratory parameters to investigate renal function in terms of sensitivity and specificity, and a better definition of the comorbidities&amp;rsquo; role in the determination of the outcome, especially in patients with chronic HF. A clarification of these key points could lead to the individualization of new specific therapeutic targets and to a reduction in mortality and hospitalization in patients with HF and renal impairment.Keywords: heart failure, outcome, renal insufficiency, worsening renal functio