Clinical Research
Heart Failure
Prognostic Value of Changes in N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Val-HeFT (Valsartan Heart Failure Trial)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2008.04.069Get rights and content
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Objectives

This study sought to evaluate the association between changes over time of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) expressed in different ways and outcome in patients with stable and chronic heart failure (HF).

Background

Although previous studies examined the prognostic value of repeated determinations of BNP in HF, there are only limited data on the clinical utility of serial measurements of the inactive peptide NT-proBNP in a large population of ambulatory patients with chronic HF with sufficient follow-up time.

Methods

The NT-proBNP was measured at randomization and after 4 months in 1,742 patients enrolled in the placebo arm of Val-HeFT (Valsartan Heart Failure Trial). Changes in NT-proBNP concentrations over 4 months were expressed as absolute change from baseline, percent relative changes, or categorical changes across a threshold value and related to subsequent mortality.

Results

A single determination of NT-proBNP (area under the curve at 4 months: 0.702, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.669 to 0.735) showed a higher prognostic discrimination than continuous changes of concentrations, expressed either as absolute (0.592, 95% CI: 0.549 to 0.634) or relative changes (0.602, 95% CI: 0.566 to 0.639). A Cox proportional hazards model showed that stratification of patients into 4 categories according to NT-proBNP levels at 2 time points 4 months apart with respect to a threshold concentration provided prognostic information in patients with chronic HF beyond that of a single determination.

Conclusions

Serial determinations of NT-proBNP concentration and classification into few categories of changes according to threshold levels may be a superior strategy for risk stratification of patients with chronic and stable HF.

Key Words

natriuretic peptide
heart failure
prognosis

Abbreviations and Acronyms

AUC
area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve
BNP
brain natriuretic peptide
CI
confidence interval
cTnT
cardiac troponin T
HF
heart failure
HR
hazard ratio
LV
left ventricular
LVEF
left ventricular ejection fraction
NT-proBNP
N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide
NYHA
New York Heart Association
ROC
receiver-operator characteristic

Cited by (0)

Drs Masson, Latini, and Cohn have received honoraria and grant support from Roche Diagnostics. Reagents for measuring NT-proBNP were kindly provided by Roche Diagnostics.