Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and the ECG in the assessment of left-ventricular systolic dysfunction in a high risk population

• Published in: European heart journal 1999-12, Vol.20 (23), p.1736-1744
• Main Authors: Talwar, S, Squire, I.B, Davies, J.E, Barnett, D.B, Ng, L.L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; brain natriuretic peptide; Cardiology. Vascular system; chemiluminescence; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; Electrocardiography; Female; Heart; Heart failure; Heart failure, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, cardiac enlargement; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Nerve Tissue Proteins - blood; Peptide Fragments - blood; plasma; Prognosis; Severity of Illness Index; Systole - physiology; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - blood; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - diagnostic imaging; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - physiopathology; wall motion index
• ISSN: 0195-668X; 1522-9645
• DOI: 10.1053/euhj.1999.1694

Aims To examine the value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, abnormal electrocardiogram and other baseline clinical and laboratory variables in identifying patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction in a high risk population. Methods and Results We studied 243 patients (129 male, median age 73 years, range 20–94) referred for echocardiography. The relationship between left ventricular wall motion index and log N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, log creatinine, electrocardiogram, age, history of hypertension, history of ischaemic heart disease, gender, valvular disease and current drug therapy was examined using regression analysis. There was a strong correlation between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and left ventricular wall motion index for the whole population (r=−0·624, P