Reduction of N terminal-pro-brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide levels with exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction.

IntroductionN-terminal-pro-brain (B-type) natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) is a peptide hormone released from ventricles in response to myocyte stretch. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of exercise training on plasma NT-pro-BNP to verify if this parameter could be used as a biological marker of left ventricular remodelling in myocardial infarction patients undergoing an exercise training programme.MethodsForty-four patients after myocardial infarction were enrolled into a cardiac rehabilitation programme, and were randomized in two groups of 22 patients each. Group A patients followed a 3-month exercise training programme, while group B patients received only routine recommendations. All patients underwent NT-pro-BNP assay, and cardiopulmonary exercise test before hospital discharge and after 3 months.ResultsIn Group A, exercise training reduced NT-pro-BNP levels (from 1498 ± 438 to 470 ± 375 pg/ml, P = 0.0026), increased maximal (VO2peak + 4.3 ± 2.9 ml/kg per min, P<0.001; Powermax +...