Acute kidney injury (AKI) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) increases morbidity and mortality. Our study aimed to investigate the role of baseline N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic ...peptide (NT-proBNP) as a predictor of AKI following TAVI.
All consecutive TAVI patients were included in the analysis, except patients with dialysis and those with a GFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m2 at baseline. Rates of AKI after TAVI were assessed according to the updated valve academic research consortium definitions using AKIN classification in three stages. NT-proBNP was measured at baseline. One-year mortality rates were assessed.
We included 1973 patients treated with TAVI between January 2006 and December 2016. Median IQR age was 81.0 77.0;84.0 years, the STS score was 6.2 3.9;9.0, and the logEuroScore was 14.5 9.0;23.0. 30-day and one-year mortality was 5.1 % and 16.1 % for all patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with NT-proBNP levels higher than two times above the upper level of normal (ULN) had an increased risk for AKI after TAVI compared to patients with NT-proBNP levels < 2× ULN (OR 1.40 1.03–1.91).
Routine assessment of baseline NT-proBNP levels might be an additional tool to identify patients at increased risk for AKI after TAVI.
•Acute kidney injury is associated with adverse outcomes in TAVI patients.•Baseline NT-proBNP is an independent predictor of AKI after TAVI.•Early identification of patients at high risk for AKI is crucial.•High-risk patients may benefit from further reducing the periprocedural amount of CM.
To assess the effect of treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) in infants less than 1 year of age with systemic glucocorticoids while using echocardiographic and diagnostic biomarkers as measures of ...efficacy.
A retrospective chart review was performed on 17 hospitalized infants less than one year of age at St. Louis Children's Hospital who received a five- to seven-day course of systemic glucocorticoid treatment followed by a three-week taper with no significant intracardiac shunts from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2021. Quantitative echocardiographic indices for PH, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and/or b-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were collected pre-glucocorticoid treatment, after the glucocorticoid burst, and following the 21-day taper.
Mean (+/- SD) gestational age was 32.1 (+/-5.8) weeks, 5 infants were (29%) concomitantly treated with sildenafil, and 8 were male. Twelve were classified as World Health Organization (WHO) group 3 PH (71%), and 5 WHO group 1 PH. There were significant improvements 30 days post-glucocorticoid initiation in BNP levels (p=0.008), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (p=0.03), eccentricity index (p=0.005), RV ejection time (p=0.04), pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAAT) (p=0.002), and PAAT to right ventricular ejection time ratio (PAAT/RVET) (p=0.02). Tricuspid regurgitation velocity was not able to be assessed. There were no mortalities during the study timeline.
In our retrospective study, systemic glucocorticoid therapy was well tolerated and appeared to be associated with significant improvement in cardio-pulmonary function in infants with PH. Further prospective study in a larger sample is warranted.
Aims
Extensive research regarding the association of troponin and prognosis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has been performed. However, data regarding natriuretic peptides are scarce. ...N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) reflects haemodynamic stress and has proven useful for risk stratification in heart failure (HF) and other conditions such as pulmonary embolism and pneumonia. We aimed to adequately characterize NT‐proBNP concentrations using a large cohort of patients with COVID‐19, and to investigate its association with prognosis.
Methods and results
Consecutive patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection and available NT‐proBNP determinations, from March 1st to April 20th, 2020 who completed at least 1‐month follow‐up or died, were studied. Of 3080 screened patients, a total of 396 (mean age 71.8 ± 14.6 years, 61.1% male) fulfilled all the selection criteria and were finally included, with a median follow‐up of 53 (18–62) days. Of those, 192 (48.5%) presented NT‐proBNP levels above the recommended cut‐off for the identification of HF. However, only 47 fulfilled the clinical criteria for the diagnosis of HF. Patients with higher NT‐proBNP during admission experienced more frequent bleeding, arrhythmias and HF decompensations. NT‐proBNP was associated with mortality both in the whole study population and after excluding patients with HF. A multivariable Cox model confirmed that NT‐proBNP was independently associated with mortality after adjusting for all relevant confounders (hazard ratio 1.28, 95% confidence interval 1.13–1.44, per logarithmic unit).
Conclusion
NT‐proBNP is frequently elevated in COVID‐19. It is strongly and independently associated with mortality after adjusting for relevant confounders, including chronic HF and acute HF. Therefore, its use may improve early prognostic stratification in this condition.
NT‐proBNP is frequently elevated in patients with COVID‐19 and is strongly associated with myocardial injury and all‐cause mortality.
Plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is elevated in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and is associated with unfavorable outcomes.
The aim of this study was to assess changes in ADMA plasma ...levels for monitoring disease progression and outcomes during PAH-specific therapy.
ADMA was measured at baseline and after at least 6 months of follow-up using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high-performance liquid chromatography. Changes in ADMA were analyzed in relation to changes in established PAH markers, including hemodynamic status, N-terminal pro–brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and risk assessment scores. Impact on survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models.
Between 2008 and 2019, ADMA samples were collected prospectively from 215 patients with PAH. Change in ADMA plasma level was a predictor of disease progression and survival. ΔADMA (median −0.03 μmol/L; 95% CI: −0.145 to 0.0135) was correlated with change in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (P < 0.005; rS = 0.287) but was not significantly correlated with ΔNT-proBNP (P = 0.056; rS = 0.135). Patients with decreased ADMA plasma levels at follow-up had better 3-year and 5-year survival rates (88% and 80%, respectively, vs 72% and 53% in those without decreases in ADMA) (P < 0.005; pulmonary hypertension–related mortality or lung transplantation). Patients with decreases in both ADMA and NT-proBNP had better survival rates compared with patients in whom only 1 parameter improved (P < 0.005). ΔADMA was a significant predictor of survival in Cox regression analysis and also when corrected for ΔNT-proBNP (HRs: 1.27 and 1.35, respectively; P < 0.005).
ADMA and NT-proBNP provide synergistic prognostic information for patients with PAH. ADMA could be used as an objective and distinct biomarker for monitoring treatment response in PAH.
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Aims
Data on the impact of COVID‐19 in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and its potential to trigger acute heart failure (AHF) are lacking. The aim of this work was to study characteristics, ...cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in patients with confirmed COVID‐19 infection and a prior diagnosis of heart failure (HF). Further aims included the identification of predictors and prognostic implications for AHF decompensation during hospital admission and the determination of a potential correlation between the withdrawal of HF guideline‐directed medical therapy (GDMT) and worse outcomes during hospitalization.
Methods and results
Data for a total of 3080 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID‐19 infection and follow‐up of at least 30 days were analysed. Patients with a previous history of CHF (n = 152, 4.9%) were more prone to the development of AHF (11.2% vs. 2.1%; P < 0.001) and had higher levels of N‐terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide. In addition, patients with previous CHF had higher mortality rates (48.7% vs. 19.0%; P < 0.001). In contrast, 77 patients (2.5%) were diagnosed with AHF, which in the vast majority of cases (77.9%) developed in patients without a history of HF. Arrhythmias during hospital admission and CHF were the main predictors of AHF. Patients developing AHF had significantly higher mortality (46.8% vs. 19.7%; P < 0.001). Finally, the withdrawal of beta‐blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers was associated with a significant increase in in‐hospital mortality.
Conclusions
Patients with COVID‐19 have a significant incidence of AHF, which is associated with very high mortality rates. Moreover, patients with a history of CHF are prone to developing acute decompensation after a COVID‐19 diagnosis. The withdrawal of GDMT was associated with higher mortality.
Heart failure in COVID‐19 patients: prevalence, incidence and prognostic implications.
Diagnosing heart failure is often difficult due to the non‐specific nature of symptoms, which can be caused by a range of medical conditions. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) have been recognized as ...important biomarkers for diagnosing heart failure. This document from the Heart Failure Association examines the practical uses of N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) in various clinical scenarios. The concentrations of NT‐proBNP vary according to the patient profile and the clinical scenario, therefore values should be interpreted with caution to ensure appropriate diagnosis. Validated cut‐points are provided to rule in or rule out acute heart failure in the emergency department and to diagnose de novo heart failure in the outpatient setting. We also coin the concept of ‘heart stress’ when NT‐proBNP levels are elevated in an asymptomatic patient with risk factors for heart failure (i.e. diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease), underlying the development of cardiac dysfunction and further increased risk. We propose a simple acronym for healthcare professionals and patients, FIND‐HF, which serves as a prompt to consider heart failure: Fatigue, Increased water accumulation, Natriuretic peptide testing, and Dyspnoea. Use of this acronym would enable the early diagnosis of heart failure. Overall, understanding and utilizing NT‐proBNP levels will lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of heart failure ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Use of biomarkers to diagnose and manage cardiac amyloidosis Castiglione, Vincenzo; Franzini, Maria; Aimo, Alberto ...
European journal of heart failure,
February 2021, 2021-Feb, 2021-02-00, 20210201, Letnik:
23, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Amyloidoses are characterized by the tissue accumulation of misfolded proteins into insoluble fibrils. The two most common types of systemic amyloidosis result from the deposition of immunoglobulin ...light chains (AL) and wild‐type or variant transthyretin (ATTRwt/ATTRv). Cardiac involvement is the main determinant of outcome in both AL and ATTR, and cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is increasingly recognized as a cause of heart failure. In CA, circulating biomarkers are important diagnostic tools, allow to refine risk stratification at baseline and during follow‐up, help to tailor the therapeutic strategy and monitor the response to treatment. Among amyloid precursors, free light chains are established biomarkers in AL amyloidosis, while the plasma transthyretin assay is currently being investigated as a tool for supporting the diagnosis of ATTRv amyloidosis, predicting outcome and monitor response to novel tetramer stabilizers or small interfering RNA drugs in ATTR CA. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) and troponins are consistently elevated in patients with AL and ATTR CA. Plasma NPs, troponins and free light chains hold prognostic significance in AL amyloidosis, and are evaluated for therapy decision‐making and follow‐up, while the value of NPs and troponins in ATTR is less well established. Biomarkers can be usefully integrated with clinical and imaging variables at all levels of the clinical algorithm of systemic amyloidosis, from screening to diagnosis and prognosis, and treatment tailoring.
Right ventricular (RV) to pulmonary arterial (PA) coupling describes the ability of the RV to augment contractility in response to increased afterload. Several echocardiographic indexes of RV-PA ...coupling have been defined; however, the optimal numerator in the coupling ratio is unclear. We sought to establish which of these ratios is best for assessing RV-PA coupling based on their relations with 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) in aging adults. In this study of 1,611 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants who underwent echocardiography at Exam 6, we evaluated the association between different numerators, including tricuspid annular planar systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC), RV free wall strain, and tissue Doppler imaging S' velocity to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) with 6MWD, NT-proBNP, and KCCQ score, adjusted for socioeconomic and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Our cohort had a mean age of 73 ± 8 years, 54% female, 17% Chinese American, 22% African American, 22% Hispanic, and 39% White participants. The mean ( ± SD) TAPSE/PASP, FAC/PASP, tissue Doppler imaging S' velocity/PASP, and RV free wall strain:PASP ratios were 0.7 ± 0.2, 1.3 ± 0.3, 0.5 ± 0.1, and 0.8 ± 0.2, respectively. All RV-PA coupling indices decreased with age (p <0.0001 for all). TAPSE:PASP ratio was lower in older (³85 years) female (0.59 ± 0.14) versus male (0.65 ± 0.17) participants (p = 0.01), whereas FAC/PASP ratio was higher in the same female versus male participants (p <0.01). TAPSE/PASP and FAC/PASP ratios were significantly and strongly associated with all NT-proBNP, 6MWD, and KCCQ scores in fully adjusted and receiver operating characteristic analysis. In older community-dwelling adults free of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, both FAC/PASP and TAPSE:PASP ratios are optimal for assessment of RV-PA coupling based on its association with 6MWD, NT-proBNP, and KCCQ score. FAC/PASP ratio has the additional benefit of reflecting age and gender-related geometric and functional changes.
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