Evaluation of the cardiovascular risk in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery: role of cardiac-specific biomarkers. A consensus document by the Inter-Society Study Group on Cardiac Biomarkers of the Italian Societies of Clinical Biochemistry: European Ligand Assay Society (ELAS), Italian section; Società Italiana di Biochimica Clinica e Biologia Molecolare Clinica (SIBioC); Società Italiana di Patologia Clinica e Medicina di Laboratorio (SIPMel)

Major adverse cardiovascular events are frequently observed in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery during the peri-operative period. At this time, the possibility to predict cardiovascular events remains limited, despite the introduction of several algorithms to calculate the risk of adverse events, mainly death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) based on the clinical history, risk factors (sex, age, lipid profile, serum creatinine) and non-invasive cardiac exams (electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, stress tests). The cardiac-specific biomarkers natriuretic peptides (NPs) and cardiac troponins (cTn) have been proposed as additional tools for risk prediction in the peri-operative period, particularly for the identification of myocardial injury in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery. The prognostic information from the measurement of BNP/NT-proBNP and hs-cTn is independent and complementary to other important indicators of risk, also including ECG and imaging techniques. Elevated levels of cardiac-specific biomarkers before surgery are associated with a markedly higher risk of MACE during the peri-operative period. BNP/NT-proBNP and hs-cTn should be measured in all patients during the clinical evaluation before surgery, particularly during intermediate- or high-risk surgery, in patients aged >65 years and/or with comorbidities. Several questions remain to be assessed in dedicated clinical studies, such as how to optimize the management of patients with raised cardiac specific biomarkers before surgery, and whether a strategy based on biomarker measurement improves patient outcomes and is cost-effective.

Natriuretic Peptides and Troponins to Predict Cardiovascular Events in Patients Undergoing Major Non-Cardiac Surgery

Patients undergoing major surgery have a substantial risk of cardiovascular events during the perioperative period. Despite the introduction of several risk scores based on medical history, classical risk factors and non-invasive cardiac tests, the possibility of predicting cardiovascular events in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery remains limited. The cardiac-specific biomarkers, natriuretic peptides (NPs) and cardiac troponins (cTn) have been proposed as additional tools for risk prediction in the perioperative period. This review paper aims to discuss the value of preoperative levels and perioperative changes in cardiac-specific biomarkers to predict adverse outcomes in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery. Based on several prospective observational studies and six meta-analyses, some guidelines recommended the measurement of NPs to refine perioperative cardiac risk estimation in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. More recently, several studies reported a higher mortality in surgical patients presenting an elevation in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T and I, especially in elderly patients or those with comorbidities. This evidence should be considered in future international guidelines on the evaluation of perioperative risk in patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery.

Plasma Protein Profile of Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis and Atherosclerotic Outcomes: Meta-Analyses and Mendelian Randomization Analyses

[Figure: see text].

Predictive value of N-terminal-Pro brain natriuretic peptide in the detection of coronary artery disease in patients with positive myocardial perfusion imaging

Background: N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) increases during myocardial ischemia and has a potential for the diagnosis of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to determine the incremental diagnostic value of NT-ProBNP in the selection of patients with positive myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) for coronary angiography. We also tested the association between the level of NT-ProBNP and severity of CAD based on the vessel score and Gensini score.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, stable angina patients with positive MPI who were assessed by coronary angiography in Imam Khomeini Hospitalwere enrolled. After the collection of demographic and clinical data, NT-ProBNP was measured in all patients on the day of coronary angiography, and its association with the presence of CAD, vessel score and Gensini score was tested.

Results: We enrolled 170 patients (mean age61.2±10.1 years, 86 males (50.6%)). Seventy-two (42.3%) patients had at least one stenotic vessel. NT-Pro BNP was significantly higher in the CAD-positive group (OR=1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02; p=0.008) and could independently predict the presence of CAD at a cut-off point of 69.5, with a sensitivity of 55.6%, specificity of 82.5% and diagnostic accuracy of 61.7%. The Gensini score had a modest correlation with NT-Pro BNP (r=0.60, p<0.001). The combination of MPI result and NT-Pro BNP could predict the presence of CAD (OR=14.57, 95% CI: 4.28, 49.56; p<0.001).

Conclusion: Serum level of NT-Pro BNP alone and its combination with the results of MPI can significantly predict the presence of CAD and therefore, highlights the need for performing coronary angiography.

N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Is Not a Significant Predictor of Stroke Incidence After 5 Years - The Ohasama Study

BACKGROUND

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has been used for risk stratification in heart failure or acute coronary syndrome, but the beyond 5-year predictive value of NT-proBNP for stroke remains an unsettled issue in Asian patients. The aim of the present study was to clarify this point.Methods and Results:We followed 1,198 participants (33.4% men; mean age, 60.5±11.1 years old) in the Japanese general population for a median of 13.0 years. A first stroke occurred in 93 participants. Referencing previous reports, we stratified participants according to NT-proBNP 30.0, 55.0, and 125.0 pg/mL. Using the NT-proBNP <30.0 pg/mL group as a reference, adjusted HR for stroke (95% CI) in the NT-proBNP 30.0-54.9-pg/mL, 55.0-124.9-pg/mL, and ≥125.0-pg/mL groups were 1.92 (0.94-3.94), 1.77 (0.85-3.66), and 1.99 (0.86-4.61), respectively. With the maximum follow-up period set at 5 years, the hazard ratio of the NT-proBNP≥125.0-pg/mL group compared with the <30.0-pg/mL group increased significantly (HR, 4.51; 95% CI: 1.03-19.85). On extension of the maximum follow-up period, however, the association between NT-proBNP and stroke risk weakened.

CONCLUSIONS

NT-proBNP was significantly associated with an elevated stroke risk. Given, however, that the predictive power decreased with the number of years after NT-proBNP measurement, NT-proBNP should be re-evaluated periodically in Asian patients.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and microsize myocardial infarction risk in the reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke study

Background

N-terminal pro B-type peptide (NT-proBNP) has been associated with risk of myocardial infarction (MI), but less is known about the relationship between NT-proBNP and very small non ST-elevation MI, also known as microsize MI. These events are now routinely detectable with modern troponin assays and are emerging as a large proportion of all MI. Here, we sought to compare the association of NT-proBNP with risk of incident typical MI and microsize MI in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study.

Methods

The REGARDS Study is a national cohort of 30,239 US community-dwelling black and white adults aged ≥ 45 years recruited from 2003 to 2007. Expert-adjudicated outcomes included incident typical MI (definite/probable MI with peak troponin ≥ 0.5 μg/L), incident microsize MI (definite/probable MI with peak troponin < 0.5 μg/L), and incident fatal CHD. Using a case-cohort design, we estimated the hazard ratio of the outcomes as a function of baseline NT-proBNP. Competing risk analyses tested whether the associations of NT-proBNP differed between the risk of incident microsize MI and incident typical MI as well as if the association of NT-proBNP differed between incident non-fatal microsize MI and incident non-fatal typical MI, while accounting for incident fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) as well as heart failure (HF).

Results

Over a median of 5 years of follow-up, there were 315 typical MI, 139 microsize MI, and 195 incident fatal CHD. NT-proBNP was independently and strongly associated with all CHD endpoints, with significantly greater risk observed for incident microsize MI, even after removing individuals with suspected HF prior to or coincident with their incident CHD event.

Conclusion

NT-proBNP is associated with all MIs, but is a more powerful risk factor for microsize than typical MI.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12872-018-0806-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

NT-proBNP Predicts Cardiovascular Death in the General Population Independent of Left Ventricular Mass and Function: Insights from a Large Population-Based Study with Long-Term Follow-Up

Aims

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) predict cardiovascular endpoints in patients and all-cause death in the general population. This was assigned to their association with clinical cardiac remodelling defined as changes in size, shape and function of the heart. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether NT-proBNP and BNP were associated with cardiovascular and overall death independent of clinical cardiac remodelling measured by echocardiography as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF).

Methods and Results

In a general population-based cohort study from Germany (KORA-S3) with subjects’ baseline age ranging from 25 to 74 years, cardiac morphology and function were assessed as left ventricular mass (LVM), diastolic dysfunction and EF by echocardiography and circulating NT-proBNP and BNP were measured at baseline. In 1,223 subjects with mortality follow-up information, we examined the association of baseline NT-proBNP and BNP with cardiovascular mortality (number of deaths = 52, median follow-up time = 12.9years) using Cox regression without and with adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, LVM, diastolic dysfunction and EF. The risk of cardiovascular mortality increased with higher NT-proBNP levels measured at baseline (hazard ratio HR = 1.67 per unit increment in logNT-proBNP, p = 2.78*10⁻⁴, adjusted for age and sex). This increased risk persisted after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, LVM, diastolic dysfunction and EF (HR = 1.73; p = 0.047). When excluding subjects with relevant LVH (LVM to body surface area > 149g/m² in men / 122g/m² in women), the NT-proBNP association with mortality was still significant (n = 1,138; number of deaths = 35; HR = 1.48; p = 0.04). We found similar results for BNP.

Conclusion

Our data confirms NT-proBNP and BNP as predictor of cardiovascular mortality in a large general population-based study with long-term follow-up. Our study extends previously published population-based studies to younger and potentially healthier individuals without relevant LVH, diastolic dysfunction or LVD.

Distribution of circulating cardiac biomarkers in healthy children: from birth through adulthood

Aim: While circulating biomarkers are critical tools for cardiovascular adult care, their relevance in childhood is unknown. Methods: We evaluated the behavior of plasma concentrations of clinically relevant cardiac biomarkers (NT-proBNP, hs-cTnI, sST2, Galectin-3) in 106 healthy children. Results: Subjects were divided into age subgroups: 24 newborns (0–30 days), 26 infants (1–12 months), 30 children (1–12 years) and 26 adolescents (13–18 years). Healthy adults were used as control. NT-proBNP (newborns: 504.3 [211.07–942.7] ng/L, median [25–75 percentiles]; infants: 200.64 [76.88–306.73]; children: 97.27 [49.24–271.80]; adolescents: 24.35 [13.14–58.83]; p < 0.001) and hs-cTnI (newborns: 9.3 [3.3–93.8] ng/L; infants: 13.8 [4.82–72.52]; children: 11.45 [4.0–48.10]; adolescents: 2.6[2.07–3.90]; p < 0.001) were highest in the first month of life, showing a decline in the next years. sST2 and Galectin-3 showed no differences. Conclusion: Changes in hs-cTnI and NT-proBNP suggest the design of age- and sex-based reference intervals that will have to be explored in a larger population.