Effectiveness of nesiritide on dialysis or all-cause mortality in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery

Natriuretic peptides have been shown to have favorable renal effects. However, recent evidence suggests potential renal side effects in patients with congestive heart failure.

This study examined the effect of nesiritide (human B-type natriuretic peptide) on hemodialysis or death in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery.

This retrospective cohort study included patients (n = 940) undergoing nontransplant adult cardiothoracic surgery between July 2001 and February 2004. Patients receiving nesiritide within 3 days after and not before surgery (n = 151) were compared with those not given nesiritide (n = 789) for incidence of hemodialysis or in-hospital death by Day 21 (HD/death). Patients with preexisting dialysis and intraoperative deaths were excluded. Forward inclusion multiple logistic regression was used based on published risk factors for HD/death.

Of 940 patients (318 coronary artery bypass graft, 348 valve, and 274 thoracic aorta), 36 required dialysis and 60 patients died (HD/death; n = 77). Adjusted for significant confounders (gender, age, procedure, intra-aortic balloon, baseline serum creatinine mg/dl [SCr], 1 day % SCr increase), nesiritide showed a statistically nonsignificant HD/death reduction (odds ratio [OR], 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-1.17; p = 0.129) in the group as a whole. When stratified by baseline SCr, a significant benefit was noted in patients with SCr > 1.0 (OR, 0.35; 95% CI 0.14-0.87; p = 0.024), while no significant effect was found in patients with SCr < 1.0 (OR, 1.55; 95% CI 0.48-5.07, p = 0.465).

Nesiritide appears promising in reducing the risk of dialysis or death in patients with SCr > 1.0 undergoing cardiothoracic surgery; however, no effect was noted with SCr < 1.0. This study provides strong rationale for a randomized trial.