Plasma levels of B-type natriuretic Peptide in patients with unstable angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction: prognostic significance and therapeutic implications.

Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were obtained from 146 patients with unstable angina pectoris, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI), or ST-segment elevation MI to determine their value in predicting the presence of new heart failure, recurrent MI or ischemia, or death 1 month after the index event. Patients with elevated plasma BNP levels (>80 pg/mL) had a significantly higher incidence of new heart failure and all-cause mortality than those with a normal plasma BNP level (<or=80 pg/mL). Early revascularization with percutaneous intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting significantly reduced the incidence of new heart failure and all-cause mortality in patients with an elevated plasma BNP level, but had no effect on individual outcomes in the normal plasma BNP subgroup.