Association of elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide levels with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between the plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients.MethodsPatients (n = 97) were classified into chronic AF (CAF; n = 14), paroxysmal AF (PAF; n = 18) and normal sinus rhythm (NSR; n = 65) groups. The plasma BNP values were analyzed with logarithmic transformation.ResultsThe PAF group showed significantly higher plasma BNP levels than the NSR group [mean (range; − l SD and + 1 SD); 248.3 (143.5, 429.5) vs. 78.2 (27.9, 218.8 ng/L), p < 0.0001]. The CAF group also showed significantly higher plasma BNP levels than the NSR group [291.1 (161.4, 524.8 ng/L), p < 0.0001]. Multivariate analysis with other clinical factors selected association of PAF as one of the factors that increased the plasma BNP level.ConclusionsThe present study indicated that plasma BNP level is clinically useful for identification of nonobstructive HCM patients who have a risk of PAF.