Blood B-type natriuretic peptide changes in different periods and different cardiac pacing modes

To observe blood B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level changes and the clinical implications in different periods and different cardiac pacing modes, the BNP levels of 105 patients with permanent cardiac pacing were assayed before pacemaker implantation and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months postoperatively. BNP level changes were compared in different periods and during different pacing modes. DDD(R) pacing mode was performed in 32 patients for 9 months and then changed to AAI(R) and VVI(R) pacing modes for 2 months, respectively. BNP levels were assayed during three different pacing modes. BNP levels did not change at any time with any pacing mode in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart functional class I to II before pacemaker implantation, however, BNP levels did change significantly with physiologic pacing mode and nonphysiologic pacing mode in patients with NYHA heart functional class III to IV before pacemaker implantation. BNP levels during physiologic pacing mode decreased significantly while it increased during nonphysiologic pacing mode. BNP levels were the lowest in AAI(R) pacing and the highest in VVI(R) pacing among the three pacing modes. The BNP level in DDD(R) pacing was between that for AAI(R) pacing and VVI(R) pacing. The results indicate that physiologic pacing should first be chosen in patients with bradycardia and congestive heart failure (CHF), and that AAI(R) was the best pacing mode if atrioventricular conduction function was normal.