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N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide identifies patients at risk for occurence of postoperative atrial fibrillation in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass Full Text
Annals of Cardiac Anaesthesia, 07/17/2012
Clinical Article
Samy K et al. – The authors conclude that N–terminal (Nt)–pro brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) values of 353 and 307pg/mL at 0 and 4hour after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) could predict occurrence of Atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods- In a prospective observational study, including patients scheduled for cardiac surgery with CPB, the authors collected blood samples for each patient: the first one immediately after the induction of anesthesia and before CPB.
- The subsequent samples were taken at the end of the CBP (H0), 4hours later (H4), and every day during the first four days (H24, H48, H72 and H96).
- Nt–proBNP and cardiac troponin (cTnI) were measured in each sample.
- The levels of Nt–proBNP were significantly increased in patients who developed AF.
- The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis of Nt–proBNP studied at different times showed that assays at the end of the CPB and at H4 had the maximum area under the curve (AUC).
- A threshold value of 353.5pg/mL of Nt–proBNP at the end of the CPB showed a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 84% for the prediction of AF and an AUC of 0.711.
- The threshold value (307.5pg/mL) of Nt– proBNP measured at H4 had the same sensitivity but a lower specificity (74%) and AUC=0.709.
