Background: The utility of N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) measurement as a prognostic marker during nonurgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been suggested in several studies. The comparative prognostic values between NT-proBNP levels and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the nonurgent PCI setting are unclear.
Methods: CREDO was a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial comparing 2 clopidogrel regimens before and after nonurgent PCI. Baseline NT-proBNP levels and LVEF were measured in 1468 subjects using the Roche Elecsys proBNP assay (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN), and the 1-year combined end point of death/myocardial infarction (MI)/stroke was analyzed according to NT-proBNP quartiles in impaired and preserved LVEF.
Results: In this patient cohort (mean age 61.6 +/- 10 years, 22% with LVEF < 50%), the median NT-proBNP level was 131 pg/mL. Increasing quartiles of NT-proBNP were associated with a higher rate of death, MI, and the combined end point (but not stroke) at 1 year, including those with LVEF > or = 50% (P < .001 for trend). This prognostic power for death and MI remained robust even when adjusted for other clinical or biochemical markers including cardiac troponin, creatinine clearance, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hazard ratio 1.249, P = .006). Despite its robust prognostic value, baseline NT-proBNP levels did not identify patients with enhanced benefit from pre-procedural and prolonged clopidogrel therapy.
Conclusions: In patients undergoing a nonurgent PCI, NT-proBNP levels may provide important prognostic value for death and MI, even in patients with preserved cardiac function, However, NT-proBNP levels were unable to identify patients with enhanced benefit from pre-procedural and prolonged clopidogrel therapy.