Summary
N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide plasma concentration: a new predictive biomarker for community acquired pneumonia?
Tazón Varela M, Alonso Valle H, Muñoz Cacho P, Colomo Mármol LF, Gallo Terán J, Hernández Herrero M
Affiliation of the authors
Servicio de Urgencias, 2Laboratorio, Hospital Comarcal de Laredo, Santander, Cantabria, Spain. Servicio de Urgencias, Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Cantabria, Spain. Gerencia de Atención Primaria Santander-Laredo, Cantabria, Spain. Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Hospital del Bierzo, León, Spain.
DOI
Quote
Tazón Varela M, Alonso Valle H, Muñoz Cacho P, Colomo Mármol LF, Gallo Terán J, Hernández Herrero M. N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide plasma concentration: a new predictive biomarker for community acquired pneumonia?. Emergencias. 2014;26:94-100
Summary
Objective: To assess the association between plasma concentration of the N-terminal
fragment of the precursor to brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and severity of
community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (30-day mortality) at the moment of emergency
department diagnosis.
Methods: Prospective observational cohort study of NT-proBNP plasma concentration as
the potential indicator of risk of 30-day mortality. Emergency department patients with a
clinical-radiographic diagnosis of CAP were enrolled consecutively from February 1 to
April 30, 2012.
Results: A total of 110 patients were recruited; 96 (87%) were included. Women
comprised 44% of the cohort. The mean (SD) age was 66 (22) years. The mean NTproBNP
concentration was 3747 (10 732) ng/L; the median concentration was 506 ng/L
(interquartile range, 2490 ng/L). Thirteen patients (14%) died within 30 days. The mean
NT-proBNP concentration was 17 804.85 (24 952) ng/L in patients who died and 1545
(2467) ng/L in survivors (P=.003).
Conclusions: NT-proBNP concentration at the time of CAP diagnosis in the emergency
department provides a good predictor of early (30-day) mortality.