Relations of NT-proBNP and short-term prognosis of heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Objective To investigate the relationship between serial NT-proBNP levels and short-term prognosis of heart failure in AMI patients. Methods One hundred and ten patients with acute myocardial infarction were divided into two groups: heart failure group and non-heart failure group. The rapid plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured in all patients before treatment and at 24 h, 7 days after treatment. All patients were followed up after admission for 30 days. Results At admission and at 24 h, 7 days immediately, there was significant difference between two groups. NT-proBNP levels in non-heart failure group showed no significant difference at admission and at 24 h, 7 days after admission (p>0.05), but NT-proBNP levels in heart failure group increased significantly at 24 h, 7 days after admission (p<0.01). UCGs showed that LVEF and LVEDD in no-heart failure group were better than in heart failure group at 7 days after admission. NT-proBNP level was negatively correlated to LVEF (r=–0.393, p<0.01), but positively correlated with LVEDD (r=0.425, p<0.01). NT-proBNP levels at admission and at 24 h, 7 days were markedly correlated to the occurrence of heart failure events (p<0.01). Conclusion The plasma NT-BNP levels could be a predictor for occurrence of heart failure in AMI patients, and serial NT-BNP measurements are superior to a single BNP value obtained at baseline.