Download PDF
Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2022; 130(04): 229-236
DOI: 10.1055/a-1540-5009
Article

Serum NT-pro-BNP Levels Predict Cardiovascular Events in Acromegaly Patients

Authors

  • Marta Ragonese

    1   Department of Human Pathology DETEV, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

  • Gianluca Di Bella

    2   Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

  • Federica Spagnolo

    3   Unit of Endocrinology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

  • Loredana Grasso

    4   Service of Immunometry and Laboratory Diagnosis, University Hospital “G. Martino”, Messina, Italy

  • Angela Alibrandi

    5   Department of Economics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

  • Guiseppe Giuffrida

    2   Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

  • Mariacarla Moleti

    2   Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

  • Francesco Ferraù

    1   Department of Human Pathology DETEV, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

  • Salvatore Cannavò

    1   Department of Human Pathology DETEV, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

Funding The study was supported by the project PRIN 2015 (number 2015ZHKFTA) of the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, through research grants.
Further Information
Also available at
  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Background Acromegaly is associated with an increased risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular (CV) events. Controlling acromegaly decreases, but does not normalize this risk. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) assessment is used in the general population for the diagnosis of heart failure and to predict ischemic recurrences and mortality. This is a retrospective, longitudinal, monocenter study that evaluates the role of serum N-terminal fragment of BNP (NT-pro-BNP) for predicting CV events in acromegaly patients.

Methods Serum NT-pro-BNP levels were measured in 76 patients with acromegaly (23 males, 57.7±1.5 years), and compared with other predictors of CV events. NT-pro-BNP cut-off value discriminating the occurrence of CV events was determined by ROC analysis. CV events were recorded during a follow-up of 78.6±6.4 months.

Results CV events occurred in 9.2% of patients. Mean log(NT-pro-BNP) concentration was higher in patients who experienced CV events than in those who did not (p<0.01) and in patients who died due to CV events than in those who died due to other causes (p<0.01). Based on the ROC curve, a cut-off value of 91.55 pg/mL could predict CV events (OR 19.06). Log(NT-pro-BNP) was lower in surgically treated patients by surgery (p<0.05), and in those cured by neurosurgery (p<0.02).

Conclusions High NT-pro-BNP value is an independent middle-term predictor of fatal or non-fatal CV events in patients with acromegaly. According to this parameter, surgically treated patients show lower CV risk than those managed with medical therapy, especially if the disease is cured.

Key words

NT-pro-BNP - acromegaly - cardiovascular - prediction - mortality


Publication History

Article published online:
23 December 2021

© 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany