Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Author Spotlight: Assessing Ischemic Stroke Damage Through Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model
Published on: August 11, 2023
NT-pro-BNP: A novel predictor of stroke risk after transient ischemic attack
Emilio Rodríguez-Castro1, Pablo Hervella2, Iria López-Dequidt1
1Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Background:
Elevated levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and NT-pro-BNP can predict an increased risk of cardiovascular events and ischemic stroke. The limited reliability to predict the risk of stroke after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) justifies the objective of our study to determine the role of NT-pro-BNP in patients with TIAs.
Methods:
From our prospective stroke registry, we performed a retrospective study in all patients with the diagnosis of TIA admitted to the Stroke Unit of our Hospital between January 2008 and March 2018. NT-pro-BNP was determined in the first hours after TIA. The endpoint was the development of stroke during the follow-up.
Results:
381 patients were included. Mean time of follow-up was 36.8 (±16.4) months. 224 patients were hospitalized due to a stroke during the follow-up, and 157 were not. NT-pro-BNP serum levels were higher in patients who suffered a stroke compared to those who did not (p ≪ 0.001). We also found greater levels of this marker the earlier the stroke happened (p = 0.024). A cut-off point of 800 pg/mL of NT-pro-BNP predicted a stroke with a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 79% (p ≪ 0.001), and was independently associated with higher risk of stroke after a TIA (OR: 6.65, p ≪ 0.001). This association persisted for different etiopathogenic TIA groups (cardioembolic: OR 26.12, p ≪ 0.001; undetermined: OR 4.87, p = 0.006; atherothrombotic: OR 1.67, p = 0.044).
Conclusions:
The early determination of NT-pro-BNP is a simple and very useful alternative to predict the prognosis after TIA regardless of the etiopathogenesis of the TIA.
Related Concept Videos
Acid Attack on Concrete
The rate at which hydrogen...
Sulfate Attack on Concrete
Sulfates from sources like soil, groundwater, or industrial effluents...
Relative Risk
Series R—L Circuit Transients
Using Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) to analyze this circuit helps determine the total asymmetrical fault current, which consists...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
Regulation of Stroke Volume
Preload refers to the degree of stretch on the heart before it contracts. It's analogous to the stretching of a rubber band; the more it's stretched, the more forcefully it snaps back. This concept is encapsulated in the Frank-Starling law of the...

