@article{a1275c30164511dfb95d000ea68e967b,
title = "Usefulness of natriuretic peptide testing for long-term risk assessment following acute ischemic stroke",
abstract = "Acute-phase levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the N-terminal fragment of the BNP prohormone (NT-pro-BNP) have been associated with mortality when measured in patients with an acute ischemic stroke; however, data regarding the longer-term value of NT-pro-BNP for long-term prognostication after ischemic stroke are limited. Two hundred sixteen patients (mean age 67 +/- 13 years) with acute ischemic stroke were seen 6 months after index admission at which time a structured evaluation including measurement of plasma NT-pro-BNP was performed. Patients were followed for 45 months, with all-cause mortality as the clinical end point. Median NT-pro-BNP concentration for the entire group was 147 pg/ml (10th to 90th percentiles 37 to 869). At follow-up 45 patients (21%) had died. NT-pro-BNP concentrations were significantly higher in decedents (308 pg/ml, 10th to 90th percentiles 74 to 2,279) than in the 171 survivors (132 pg/ml, 10th to 90th percentiles 35 to 570, p <0.001). Patients with NT-pro-BNP < or =147 pg/ml had a significantly improved survival rate on univariate analysis (p <0.001). In multivariate analysis after adjustment for age, stroke severity, heart and renal failures, levels of NT-pro-BNP were an independent predictor of mortality >6 months after stroke (adjusted hazard ratio 1.5, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 1.9, p = 0.005). In conclusion, NT-pro-BNP concentrations measured during the stable phase after acute ischemic stroke are strongly predictive of long-term mortality.",
keywords = "Acute Disease, Aged, Area Under Curve, Brain Ischemia, Confidence Intervals, Denmark, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Natriuretic Peptide, Brain, Norway, Peptide Fragments, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, ROC Curve, Risk Assessment, Sensitivity and Specificity, Stroke, Time Factors",
author = "Jensen, {Jesper K} and Dan Atar and Kristensen, {S{\o}ren R} and Hans Mickley and Januzzi, {James L}",
year = "2009",
doi = "10.1016/j.amjcard.2009.03.029",
language = "English",
volume = "104",
pages = "287--91",
journal = "The American Journal of Cardiology",
issn = "1879-1913",
publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",
number = "2",
}