Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide level can predict myocardial tissue perfusion in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND

Inadequate myocardial tissue perfusion after successful revascularization in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with worse clinical outcomes. We investigated whether the plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level on admission could predict the status of myocardial tissue perfusion in patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

The study prospectively enrolled 102 patients with STEMI who underwent primary PCI within 12 h of symptom onset. The grade of myocardial tissue perfusion was measured by ST-segment resolution, corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count, and myocardial blush grade after primary PCI. All-cause mortality at 1 month after PCI was assessed.

RESULTS

All patients were divided into two groups according to the BNP level; high-BNP group (≥80 pg/ml, n=43) and low-BNP group (<80 pg/ml, n=59). High-BNP group had significantly lower ST-segment resolution (42.69 ± 24.85 vs. 71.15 ± 19.37%, P<0.001), higher corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (53.7 ± 19.7 vs. 44.5 ± 15.5, P=0.04), lower myocardial blush grade (2.4 ± 0.9 vs. 2.9 ± 0.3, P=0.001), and higher short-term mortality (16.2 vs. 3.3%, P=0.023). In multivariate logistic regression analysis for prediction of good myocardial tissue perfusion after PCI, the odds ratio of low-BNP group was 4.12 (95% confidence interval 1.49-13.08, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The patients with STEMI who had higher BNP level on admission showed inadequate myocardial tissue perfusion status after primary PCI. The plasma BNP level on admission may serve as a predictor of tissue perfusion after primary PCI in patients with STEMI.