NT‐ProBNP serum levels reflect severity and extent of ischemia in patients admitted with non‐ST‐elevation acute coronary syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between NT‐proBNP elevation and prognosis in patients with NSTEACS. BACKGROUND: High NT‐proBNP levels are related to a worse prognosis in patients with ACS. The precise mechanism by which is not clear. METHODS: Serial sampling of NT‐proBNP, Troponin T and CK‐MB was performed in 23 patients admitted with NSTEACS. Using coronary angiography in each patient a culprit lesion was identified. Proximal lesions were located before or at the first major branch of the parent artery. All other lesions localizations were considered distal. To evaluate the influence of left ventricular systolic function on NT‐proBNP levels WMSI was measured by echocardiography. RESULTS: Proximal culprit lesion localization was associated with significant higher baseline (mean 506 ng/l, SD 440 ng/l) and peak NT‐proBNP levels (mean 1055 ng/l; SD 236 ng/l), as compared to patients with a distal lesion localization. (Baseline: 139 ng/l, SD 140 ng/l, peak: 381 ng/l; SD 64 ng/l). (P = 0.01) NT‐proBNP l...