Stroke Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Stroke, including details on treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, signs, symptoms.

Elevated plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels in acute ischemic stroke.

Iltumur K, Karabulut A, Apak I, Aluclu U, Ariturk Z, Toprak N

Department of Cardiology, Dicle University Medical Faculty, Diyarbakir, Turkey. kencan@dicle.edu.tr

BACKGROUND: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a neurohormone secreted mainly in the cardiac ventricles in response to volume expansion and pressure overload. The aim of this study was to assess plasma N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) changes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS: The study group consisted of 57 (37 women aged 64 +/- 12 years) patients who had their first AIS and no history or signs of cardiovascular disease. An age-matched control group was also included (n = 57, 36 women aged 61 +/- 6 years). NT-proBNP, troponin I (TnI), and creatine kinase-MB were evaluated. A thorough cardiovascular and neurological investigation, including imaging techniques and lesion size determination, was also performed. RESULTS: The log NT-proBNP peak levels, TnI, and creatine kinase-MB levels were significantly higher in AIS compared with controls (7.25 +/- 1.77 vs 3.48 +/- 0.76 pg/mL, P < .0001; 0.76 +/- 0.54 vs 0.5 +/- 0.0 ng/mL, P < .001; 57 +/- 37 vs 13 +/- 4 U/L, P < .001, respectively). The log NT-proBNP correlated positively with TnI (r = 0.29, P = .03) and heart rate (r = 0.41, P = .002), and negatively with left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.67, P < .0001). Patients with signs of marked myocardial ischemia and patients with insular cortex involvement had even higher NT-proBNP levels. After adjustment for relevant factors, the relation between the log NT-proBNP and AIS as well as insular cortex involvement was observed to be insignificant (P > .05 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that NT-proBNP plasma levels are significantly elevated in AIS and might be of clinical importance as a supplementary tool for the assessment of cardiovascular function in patients with AIS.

Published 28 April 2006 in Am Heart J, 151(5): 1115-22.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Stroke Research Today. All Rights Reserved.