Prospective monitoring N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide during natural progression of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis in elderly

Prognostic values of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in myriad diseases have been studied. During the natural progression of atherosclerotic renal artery disease (ARVD) changes of NT-proBNP levels and its significance is not understood. A prospective longitudinal follow-up study was conducted among 61 ARVD patients (77.7 ± 5.2 years old). NT-proBNP was determined at baseline and six month intervals over 25.89 ± 12.44 months and its correlation with death and/or newly occurred CVEs were assessed. Level of NT-proBNP increased from baseline median 210.0 pg/mL (25th–75th percentile, 98.0 pg/mL–540.0 pg/mL) to 900.9 pg/mL (25th–75th percentile, 704.5 pg/mL–1583.5 pg/mL) (p = 0.032) at the end of follow-up. Among 44.26% of the cohort (n = 27) NT-proBNP level ≥450 pg/mL was detected, which 6 deaths happened (22.22% death rate) and CVEs occurred to 62.96% of patients, comparing to 0% death rate (p = 0.077) and 8.82% affected by CVEs (p = 0.019) in other 55.74% of cohort (n = 34) whose NT-proBNP <450 pg/mL. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that NT-proBNP level ≥450 pg/mL was a risk factor related to CVEs (HR = 3.96, p = 0.03). Cox regression analysis found NT-proBNP level ≥450 pg/mL was an independent risk factor of CVEs (HR = 5.12, p = 0.022) after adjustment of body mass index, blood pressure, kidney function. The negative predictive value was 90.9% of NT-proBNP levels ≥450 pg/mL for new CVEs. NT-proBNP levels diverge throughout ARVD natural progression in elderly males over 75 years of age. Elevated NT-proBNP level of ≥450 pg/mL was predictive for CVEs with 90.9% of negative predictive value.