N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) Levels are Increased in Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack Accompanied by Nonfocal Symptoms.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Transient nonfocal neurological symptoms may serve as markers of cardiac dysfunction. We assessed whether serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, a biomarker of cardiac disease, are increased in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) accompanied by nonfocal symptoms and in patients with attacks of nonfocal symptoms (transient neurological attack [TNA]).

METHODS AND RESULTS:

We included 15 patients with TNA, 69 with TIA accompanied by nonfocal symptoms, 58 with large-vessel TIA, 32 with cardioembolic TIA, and 46 age- and sex-matched healthy control participants. Serum NT-proBNP levels were determined within 1 week after the attack. We compared log-transformed NT-proBNP levels of patients with cardioembolic TIAs and mixed or nonfocal TNAs, with those of patients with noncardioembolic TIAs as a reference group. Adjustments for age, sex, atrial fibrillation, and a history of nonischemic heart disease were made with a multiple linear regression model. Compared with large-vessel TIA (mean 14.2 pmol/L), mean NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in patients with TIA accompanied by nonfocal symptoms (40.5 pmol/L, P=0.049) and with cardioembolic TIA (123.5 pmol/L; P=0.004) after adjustments for age, sex, atrial fibrillation, and a history of nonischemic heart disease. Patients with TNA also had higher mean NT-proBNP levels (20.8 pmol/L, P=0.38) than those with large-vessel TIA, but this difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION:

NT-proBNP levels are increased in patients with TIA accompanied by nonfocal symptoms.

• Authors: Gerben J J Plas, Susanne D Jurg, Marjolein Brusse-Keizer, Diederik W J Dippel, Peter J Koudstaal, Heleen M den Hertog
• Journal: Journal of the American Heart Association (J Am Heart Assoc) Vol. 4 Issue 12 (Dec 15 2015) ISSN: 2047-9980 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26672079 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2015 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Peptide Fragments
• pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76)
• Natriuretic Peptide, Brain

Topics

• Biomarkers (blood)
• Case-Control Studies
• Confusion (blood, etiology)
• Dizziness (blood, etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Ischemic Attack, Transient (blood, complications, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Natriuretic Peptide, Brain (blood)
• Paresthesia (blood, etiology)
• Peptide Fragments (blood)
• Vision Disorders (blood, etiology)