Percutaneous coronary revascularization reduces plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentration in stable coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this work was to assess the effect of percutaneous coronary revascularization (PCR) on plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration. BACKGROUND Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is associated with increased plasma natriuretic peptide concentrations. The effect of ischemia resolution on plasma natriuretic peptide is not known. METHODS Twenty-six patients with stable angina, normal LV systolic function, and isolated stenoses of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery were studied. All patients had angiographically and physiologically significant lesions defined by cine-angiography and intracoronary pressure wire. RESULTS After revascularization, 24 patients demonstrated significant decrease in mean plasma NT-proBNP 8 weeks after PCR (from 177.2 +/- 190.8 pg/ml to 105.0 +/- 92.4 pg/ml, p = 0.03). The mean decrease in log NT-proBNP was 0.533, corresponding to geometric mean decrease of NT-proBNP by a factor of 59% (95% confidence interval 48.2% to 71.4%, p < 0.00005). Reduction in NT-proBNP was independent of change in LV systolic function. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that removal of fixed LAD stenosis reduces plasma NT-proBNP concentration. This has implications for interpretation of natriuretic peptide levels in clinical settings and as screening tool for LV systolic dysfunction.