Implementation of the N - terminal proB-type Natriuretic Peptide Test in National Guidelines for Diagnosis of Heart Failure in Croatia

Aim. In this article we aimed to analyze the implications of using new method of determination N - terminal proB - type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) biomarker for rapid diagnosis in Emergency Room of acute heart failure and for prediction of adverse cardiovascular outcome. Methods. Electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay is sandwich principle test with two monoclonal NT-proBNP-specific antibodies. PreciControl Cardiac II level 1 and level 2 with values of 150 ng/L and 4930 ng/L were analyzed by Electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay on Roche Cobas e411, in triplicate for five consecutive days in purpose for calculating within laboratory precision, according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocol. Results. According to CLSI protocol we calculated standard deviation and coefficient of variation for repeatability, intermediate precision and within laboratory precision from control results. Calculated coefficient of variation for the within laboratory precision for level 1 was 4,48% and for level 2 was 4,15%. Conclusion. Despite very good curative cardiology, Croatia is still among the countries with high cardiovascular risks and mortality. Through the mutual dialogue and activities between leaders of Croatian Cardiac Society, Croatian Society of Hypertension and Society of Family Physicians, the consensus for the development of the Croatian Guidelines for the Diagnosis of Heart Failure (HF) has been reached

The Association of Preoperative Depression, and C-Reactive Protein Levels with a Postoperative Length of Stay in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

This study aimed to explore the role of preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in mediating the association between the preoperative depression symptoms and postoperative length of stay in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Preoperative depression symptoms of 212 elective CABG patients were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). The patient’s demographic and clinical parameters were collected from medical records prior to surgery. Patients were followed up during their in-hospital stay to measure early (1–3 days post-surgery) and persistent (4–6 days post-surgery) CRP response to CABG surgery. The higher persistent CRP response was significantly (p p = 0.009). However, when the gender subgroups were analyzed separately, that remained significant (OR = 1.016, 95% CI = 1.004–1.028, p = 0.005) only for the male subgroup. There was no significant association between elevated BDI-II depression scores and longer postoperative hospital stay. Additionally, no significant influence of BDI-II scores on preoperative or postoperative CRP levels, or vice versa, was detected. Further work is needed to explore the extent and pathways through which depression might influence the postoperative recovery of CABG patients