A single BNP measurement in acute heart failure does not reflect the degree of congestion

Prognostic association of circulating relaxin-2 in acute heart failure

BACKGROUND

Despite the increasing interest in the study of the endogenous relaxin system in heart failure (HF), its role as a prognostic marker in acute HF remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association of relaxin-2 circulating levels with 6 months' mortality in acute HF.

METHODS

We evaluated relaxin-2 serum levels at admission in a cohort of patients with acute HF (n = 202) using an enzyme immunoassay. The ability of relaxin-2 to predict all-cause death (primary outcome) and HF-specific death (secondary outcome) at 6 months was assessed using Cox-regression analysis.

RESULTS

The median age was 79 (70-85) years old, 44% of the patients were male, and 43% had preserved ejection fraction (≥50%). Median serum relaxin-2 level was 25 pg/mL. Patients with higher relaxin-2 levels had more peripheral oedemas, higher sodium retention score, higher pulmonary artery pressures, higher prevalence of right ventricle dysfunction and lower inferior vena cava collapse at inspiration. Conversely, there was no association with left chambers parameters or with B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Higher relaxin-2 concentrations were associated with a higher risk of all-cause death [HR 1.15; 95%CI 1.01,1.30; P = 0.030] and HF-specific death [HR 1.21; 95% CI 1.03-1.42; P = 0.018], after adjustment for classical prognostic factors such as age, sex and BNP.

CONCLUSIONS

In our acute HF population, relaxin-2 circulating levels were associated with clinical and echocardiographic markers of systemic congestion and with 6-months' mortality, independently of BNP. These results lay the groundwork for future investigations on the potential of relaxin-2 as an auxiliary biomarker in HF.

Inferior vena cava diameter and risk of acute decompensated heart failure rehospitalisations

OBJECTIVES

Inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter may be a surrogate for volume status in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). The utility of IVC diameter measurement is under studied. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between IVC diameter, clinical variables and ADHF rehospitalisations.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of 200 patients admitted for ADHF from 2018 to 2019 with transthoracic echocardiogram during index hospitalisation. Charts were assessed for ADHF rehospitalisation within 1 year.

RESULTS

The median age was 64, 30.5% were female, and average left ventricular ejection fraction was 41%±20%. IVC diameter correlated to pulmonary arterial (PA) pressure (R=0.347, p<0.001) and body surface area (BSA) (R=0.424 p<0.001). IVC diameter corrected for BSA correlated to PA pressure (R=0.287, p<0.001) and log N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (R=0.247, p≤0.01). Patients rehospitalised within 1 year had significantly greater mean IVC diameter compared with those not rehospitalised (p<0.001) while there was no difference in mean net weight lost during index hospitalisation or mean log NT-proBNP. Patients with IVC diameter greater than 2.07 cm had significantly increased ADHF rehospitalisation (85.6% vs 49.3%, log rank p<0.001) with HR 2.44 (95% CI 1.85 to 3.23, p<0.001). In multivariable Cox regression only IVC diameter (p<0.001), presence of tricuspid regurgitation (p=0.02) and NYHA class III/IV (p<0.001) independently predicted ADHF rehospitalisation within 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

IVC diameter is predictive of rehospitalisation in patients with ADHF and may identify patients in need of greater monitoring and diuresis.

Role of prehospital point-of-care N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in acute life-threatening cardiovascular disease

INTRODUCTION

The evidence about the use of natriuretic peptides (NP) to predict mortality in the pre-hospital setting is limited. The main objective of this study is to assess the ability of point-of-care testing (POCT) N-terminal portion of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to predict 2-day in-hospital mortality of acute cardiovascular diseases (ACVD).

METHODS

We conducted a multicentric, prospective, observational study in adults with ACVD transferred by ambulance to emergency departments (ED). The primary outcome was 2-day in-hospital mortality. The discrimination capacity of the NT-proBNP was performed through a prediction model trained using a derivation cohort and evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic on a validation cohort.

RESULTS

A total of 1006 patients were recruited. The median age was 75 (IQR 63-84) years and 421 (41.85%) were females. The 2-day in-hospital mortality was 5.8% (58 cases). The predictive validity of NT-proBNP, for 2-day mortality reached the following AUC: 0.823 (95%CI: 0.758-0.889, p < 0.001), and the optimal specificity and sensitivity were 73.1 and 82.7. Predictive power of NT-proBNP obtained an AUC 0.549 (95%CI: 0.432-0.865, p 0.215) for acute heart failure, AUC 0.893 (95%CI: 0.617-0.97, p < 0.001) for ischemic heart disease, AUC 0.714 (95%CI: 0.55-0.87, p = 0.0069) for arrhythmia and AUC 0.927 (95%CI: 0.877-0.978, p < 0,001) for syncope.

CONCLUSION

POCT NT-proBNP has proven to be a strong predictor of early mortality in ACVD, showing an excellent predictive capacity in cases of syncope. However, this biomarker does not appear to be useful for predicting outcome in patients with acute heart failure.

Quantification and treatment of congestion in heart failure: A clinical and pathophysiological overview

Renal sodium and water retention with resulting extracellular volume expansion and redistribution are hallmark features of heart failure syndromes. However, congestion assessment, monitoring, and treatment represent a real challenge in daily clinical practice. This document reviewed historical and contemporary evidence of available methods for determining volume status and discuss pharmacological aspects and pathophysiological principles that underlie diuretic use.

Quantification and Treatment of Congestion in Heart Failure: A Clinical and Pathophysiological Overview

Renal sodium and water retention with resulting extracellular volume expansion and redistribution are hallmark features of heart failure syndromes. However, congestion assessment, monitoring, and treatment represent a real challenge in daily clinical practice. This document reviewed historical and contemporary evidence of available methods for determining volume status and discuss pharmacological aspects and pathophysiological principles that underlie diuretic use.

B-type natriuretic peptide levels and diagnostic accuracy: excess fluid volume

ABSTRACT Aim: To analyze the behavior of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in the presence of defining characteristics (DCs) of the nursing diagnosis Excess fluid volume (00026) in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure. Methods: Cohort study of patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (September 2015 to September 2016) defined by Boston Criteria. Patients hospitalized for up to 36 h with BNP values ≥ 100 pg/ml were included; BNP values at baseline-final assessment were compared by Wilcoxon test, the number of DCs at baseline-final assessment was compared by paired t-test. Results: Sixty-four patients were included; there was a significant positive correlation between delta of BNP and the number of DCs present at initial clinical assessment. Conclusions: The behavior of BNP was correlated to the DCs indicating congestion. With clinical compensation, DCs and BNP decreased. The use of this biomarker may provide additional precision to the nursing assessment.

Clinical value of pre-discharge bio-adrenomedullin as a marker of residual congestion and high risk of heart failure hospital readmission

AIMS

Recently, bio-adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) was proposed as a congestion marker in heart failure (HF). In the present study, we aimed to study whether bio-ADM levels at discharge from a hospital admission for worsening HF could provide additional information on (residual) congestion status, diuretic dose titration and clinical outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Plasma bio-ADM was measured in 1236 acute HF patients in the PROTECT trial at day 7 or discharge. Median discharge bio-ADM was 33.7 [21.5-61.5] pg/mL. Patients with higher discharge bio-ADM levels were hospitalised longer, had higher brain natriuretic peptide levels, and poorer diuretic response (all P < 0.001). Bio-ADM was the strongest predictor of discharge residual congestion (clinical congestion score > 3) (odds ratio 4.35, 95% confidence interval 3.37-5.62; P < 0.001). Oedema at discharge was one of the strongest predictors of discharge bio-ADM (β = 0.218; P < 0.001). Higher discharge loop diuretic doses were associated with a poorer diuretic response during hospitalisation (β = 0.187; P < 0.001) and higher bio-ADM levels (β = 0.084; P = 0.020). High discharge bio-ADM levels combined with higher use of loop diuretics were independently associated with a greater risk of 60-day HF rehospitalisation (hazard ratio 4.02, 95% confidence interval 2.23-7.26; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In hospitalised HF patients, elevated pre-discharge bio-ADM levels were associated with higher discharge loop diuretic doses and reflected residual congestion. Patients with combined higher bio-ADM levels and higher loop diuretic use at discharge had an increased risk of rehospitalisation. Assessment of discharge bio-ADM levels may be a readily applicable marker to identify patients with residual congestion at higher risk of early hospital readmission.

Adrenomedullin in heart failure: pathophysiology and therapeutic application

Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a peptide hormone first discovered in 1993 in pheochromocytoma. It is synthesized by endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells and diffuses freely between blood and interstitium. Excretion of ADM is stimulated by volume overload to maintain endothelial barrier function. Disruption of the ADM system therefore results in vascular leakage and systemic and pulmonary oedema. In addition, ADM inhibits the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. ADM is strongly elevated in patients with sepsis and in patients with acute heart failure. Since hallmarks of both conditions are vascular leakage and tissue oedema, we hypothesize that ADM plays a compensatory role and may exert protective properties against fluid overload and tissue congestion. Recently, a new immunoassay that specifically measures the biologically active ADM (bio-ADM) has been developed, and might become a biomarker for tissue congestion. As a consequence, measurement of bio-ADM might potentially be used to guide diuretic therapy in patients with heart failure. In addition, ADM might be used to guide treatment of (pulmonary) oedema or even become a target for therapy. Adrecizumab is a humanized, monoclonal, non-neutralizing ADM-binding antibody with a half-life of 15 days. Adrecizumab binds at the N-terminal epitope of ADM, leaving the C-terminal side intact to bind to its receptor. Due to its high molecular weight, the antibody adrecizumab cannot cross the endothelial barrier and consequently remains in the circulation. The observation that adrecizumab increases plasma concentrations of ADM indicates that ADM-binding by adrecizumab is able to drain ADM from the interstitium into the circulation. We therefore hypothesize that administration of adrecizumab improves vascular integrity, leading to improvement of tissue congestion and thereby may improve clinical outcomes in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. A phase II study with adrecizumab in patients with sepsis is ongoing and a phase II study on the effects of adrecizumab in patients with acute decompensated heart failure with elevated ADM is currently in preparation.

Natriuretic peptide B plasma concentration increases in the first 12 h of pulmonary edema recovery

BACKGROUND

According to guidelines, single determination of B-type Natriuretic peptide (BNP) should be used for distinguishing between cardiac and non-cardiac acute dyspnea at the emergency room. BNP measurement is also recommended before hospital discharge in patients hospitalized for heart failure to assess prognosis and to evaluate treatment efficacy. In acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema, BNP is measured using a single BNP determination, but the temporal behavior of BNP during pulmonary edema recovery is unknown.

METHODS

Fifty chronic low ejection fraction (<40%) heart failure patients (age 77 ± 9 years, 17 M-33F) admitted for acute pulmonary edema were studied. Patients were grouped according to 50% dyspnea recovery time into 3 groups: ≤30 min (n = 14), 30 to 60 min (n = 19), and > 60 min (n = 17). BNP was measured at arrival and 4, 8, 12 and 24 h afterwards.

RESULTS

At arrival, BNP was elevated in all patients without significant difference among groups. In the entire population, BNP median and interquartile range value were 791 (528-1327) pg/ml, 785(559-1299) pg/ml, 1014(761-1573) pg/ml, 1049(784-1412) pg/ml, 805(497-1271) pg/ml at arrival and 4, 8, 12 and 24 h afterwards, respectively, showing higher values at 8 and 12 h. This peculiar temporal behavior of BNP was shared by all study groups. Patients with the longest edema resolution showed the highest BNP level 8 and 12 h after admission.

CONCLUSIONS

In acute pulmonary edema, BNP increased up to 12 h after emergency admission regardless of dyspnea recovery time, making BNP quantitative meaning in the acute phase of pulmonary edema uncertain.

Post-discharge rise in BNP and rehospitalization for heart failure

BACKGROUND

The B‑type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level on discharge of patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure (HF) is widely considered as the "baseline" value, and treatment should be targeted to maintain this level. The prognostic value of an increase in BNP level from discharge to the 1‑month follow-up in predicting rehospitalization has not been previously explored.

METHODS

The Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness (ESCAPE) trial data were utilized to determine whether an increase in BNP level from discharge to the 1‑month follow-up is associated with a higher risk of rehospitalization. The study endpoints were all-cause rehospitalization up to 6 months following randomization.

RESULTS

Among 44 patients (mean age, 56 years, 71% men) who had their BNP levels checked on discharge and at the 1‑month follow-up, the average BNP level on discharge of the whole cohort was 467 pg/ml, which increased to 919 pg/ml at 1 month (p = 0.001). The median and interquartile range of the magnitude of rise in BNP level from discharge to 1‑month follow-up was higher in rehospitalized compared with non-rehospitalized patients (329 [11, 956] vs. 44 [-90, 316] pg/ml, p = 0.039, in both groups, respectively). Receiver operator characteristic curves showed that the magnitude of the rise in BNP from discharge to the 1‑month follow-up had an area under the curve of 0.686 (p = 0.0255) in predicting all-cause rehospitalization. Rehospitalized and non-rehospitalized patients had similar degree of clinical congestion and comparable BNP level on hospital discharge.

CONCLUSION

The magnitude of the rise in BNP level from discharge to the 1‑month follow-up is a useful prognostic factor that predicts rehospitalization in patients with HF.

[Dynamic changes of brain natriuretic peptide concentration and its diagnostic value for heart failure in early phase of acute myocardial infarction]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the dynamic changes in brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration and the diagnostic value of BNP for heart failure at different time points in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS

AMI patients who were admitted in our department between January 1, 2016 and July 31, 2016 and underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 12 h after onset were enrolled in this study. All the patients received bedside examinations of BNP concentration and clinical cardiac function within 1 h after PCI and at 12, 20, 24 and 48 h after the onset of AMI. According to the peak BNP concentration, the patients were divided into high peak BNP group (> 400 pg/mL) and normal peak BNP group (≤400 pg/mL).

RESULTS

Seventy patients were enrolled in the study. Within 48 h after AMI onset, BNP concentration variations followed a pattern of an initial increase till reaching the peak concentration at 20 to 24 h, with subsequent gradual decrease. BNP concentrations differed significantly among the indicated time points (χ²=141.7, P < 0.05) except for those between 20 h and 24 h (χ²=0.173, P > 0.05). Compared with those in normal peak BNP group, the patients in high peak BNP group had an older age, a lower BMI, a longer time to perfusion, and a higher likeliness of anterior myocardial infarction and pulmonary infection (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, BMI and anterior myocardial infarction were independently associated with the increase of peak BNP concentration. ROC curve analysis showed that BNP concentration within 1 h after emergency PCI was unable to diagnose heart failure at that time (P > 0.05), while BNP concentrations at 12, 20, 24 and 48 h after AMI onset had significant diagnostic values for heart failure (P < 0.05) with areas under ROC of 0.860, 0.786, 0.768 and 0.863, and optimal cutoff values of 156.5, 313.7, 240.9 and 285.9 pg/mL, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

BNP concentration increases first and then decreases in the early phase of AMI, and the peak concentration occurs at 20-24 h after the onset. The diagnostic values of BNP concentrations at different time points also vary.

Matrix metalloproteinase 19 processes the laminin 5 gamma 2 chain and induces epithelial cell migration

In this study we analyzed the proteolytic activity of MMP-19 and its impact on keratinocyte migration. In the HaCaT keratinocyte cell line overexpressing wild-type MMP-19 (HaCaT-WT), transmigration through fibrin and type IV collagen matrices was significantly increased compared to cells harboring a catalytically inactive mutant (HaCaT-EA). Studying the expression of MMP-19 in early stages of squamous cell cancer (SCC), we found co-localization of MMP-19 and laminin 5 at the invading tumor front but not in suprabasal epidermis of the tumor. Examination of laminin 5 processing revealed increased processing of the gamma2 chain in the medium and matrix of HaCaT-WT cells and degradation by recombinant human MMP-19 to 105-kDa and 80-kDa fragments. Parental HaCaT grown on the matrix of HaCaT-WT and HaCaT-EA cells displayed differential tyrosine phosphorylation. Using integrin blocking and stimulating antibodies we could attribute these differences to a shift from beta4-integrin-dependent signaling on the HaCaT-EA matrix toward alpha3-integrin-dependent signaling on the HaCaT-WT matrix. As a consequence, parental HaCaT showed increased migration on the matrix of HaCaT-WT cells. These data suggest that the MMP-19-dependent processing of the gamma2 chains leads to the integrin switch favoring epithelial migration and that MMP-19 actively participates in the early stages of SCC invasion.