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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
08:34
Isolation of Atrial Myocytes from Adult Mice
Published on: July 25, 2019
B-type natriuretic peptide and ischemia in patients with stable coronary disease: data from the Heart and Soul study
Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo1, Maria Ansari, Nelson B Schiller
1Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Circulation
|December 10, 2003
Summary
Elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are linked to myocardial ischemia in stable coronary disease patients. This association is stronger in those with prior myocardial infarction, explaining BNP test limitations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomarkers
- Diagnostic Testing
Background:
- B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) elevations indicate heart failure but lack specificity.
- Myocardial ischemia may also elevate BNP levels, complicating diagnosis in non-symptomatic patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between BNP levels and inducible myocardial ischemia.
- To determine if BNP is a reliable indicator of ischemia in patients with stable coronary disease.
Main Methods:
- Measured plasma BNP levels in outpatients with stable coronary disease.
- Performed exercise treadmill testing with stress echocardiography to detect inducible ischemia.
- Analyzed BNP levels across quartiles and correlated with ischemia, adjusting for confounding factors.
Main Results:
- 32% of participants (113/355) had inducible ischemia.
- Highest BNP quartile showed double the risk of inducible ischemia (aRR 2.0).
- Association was significant in patients with prior myocardial infarction (aRR 2.6) but not in others.
Conclusions:
- Elevated BNP is independently associated with inducible ischemia in stable coronary disease.
- This link is particularly strong in patients with a history of myocardial infarction.
- BNP's lack of specificity for ventricular dysfunction may be due to associated ischemia.
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