Associations of NT-proBNP and parameters of mental health in depressed coronary artery disease patients

Natriuretic peptides (NP) are involved in the regulation of blood pressure and blood volume, and are elevated in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). They are used as markers for illness severity, but their role in mental health is not well understood. Recently, A-type NP (ANP) has been associated with reduced anxiety in studies on cardiac patients; however, this study is the first to assess this effect for B-type NP (BNP) and for further dimensions of well-being and mental health. Depression, anxiety, and distress are more common in CAD patients than in the general population and are most likely not only influenced by psychological adaptation but also by neurobiological processes. …

Low N-Terminal pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) longitudinally predicts elevated anxiety in depressed patients with coronary artery disease

Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Discovery of Atrial Fibrillation After Stroke

Background and Purpose— Diagnosing paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) can be challenging after acute ischemic stroke. Enhanced and prolonged Holter-ECG monitoring (EPM) improves the detection rate but is not feasible for all patients. We hypothesized that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) may help to identify patients with stroke at high risk for pAF to select patients for EPM more effectively. Methods— Patients with acute cerebral ischemia ≥60 years presenting in sinus rhythm and without history of AF were included into a prospective, randomized multicenter study to receive either EPM (3× 10-day Holter-ECG) or usual stroke care diagnostic work-up. BNP plasma levels were measured on random…

Longitudinal relationship between B-type natriuretic peptide and anxiety in coronary heart disease patients with depression.

Patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) suffer from physical limitations, but also from psychological distress. Natriuretic peptides may be involved in the neurobiological processes that modulate psychological adaptation, as they are increased in heart disease and seem to have an anxiolytic-like function. Longitudinal data on this association are scarce.To assess the relationship between NT-proBNP and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)), we used secondary data from a multicenter trial from baseline to 24 months. Patients (N = 308, 80.8% male, mean age 60.1 years) had stable CHD and moderate levels of depression (HADS ≥8).Multiple linear regression adjusted for age, sex…