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(Circulation. 2003;107:e9048.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Cardiovascular News

Ruth SoRelle, MPH

Circulation Newswriter

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

B-Natriuretic Peptide and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Are Complementary Predictors

B-natriuretic peptides (B-natriuretic peptide [BNP] or amino-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide [N-BNP]) plus left ventricular ejection fraction improve the ability to predict risk in patients who have already had a myocardial infarction (MI), said New Zealand researchers from Christchurch School of Medicine in this week’s issue of Circulation (Circulation. 2003;107:2786–2792). In this study, led by A. Mark Richards, MD, PhD, the combination of factors predicted new MI in patients with left ventricular ejection fractions less than 40%.

The 3-year risk of death in the group with BNP or N-BNP and left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40% was 37%, according to the research. The risk of heart failure was 18%, and the risk of new MI was 26% in this group. BNP and N-BNP were equivalent prognostic indicators.

The researchers concluded: "In conclusion, plasma N-BNP and BNP levels measured within a few days of acute MI independently predict death and heart failure in the presence or absence of preserved ejection fraction, and are related to the risk of new ischemic events, specifically those with impaired systolic function. Measurements of the plasma B-type natriuretic peptides together with measures of left ventricular contractile function allow useful refinement of risk stratification beyond that provided by either marker alone."

ß-Interferon Clears Viral Genomes in Patients With Myocardial Virus Persistence
Treatment with ß-interferon cleared viral genomes from the myocardial tissue of 22 patients with myocardial virus persistence and appeared to be associated with an increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (44.6% to 53.1%), said German researchers in this week’s issue of the journal Circulation . . . [Full Text of this Article]