Clinical Characteristics of Cryoglobulinemia With Cardiac Involvement in a Single Center

Background: Cryoglobulinemia is a syndrome characterized by the presence of cryoglobulins (CGs) in serum, and cardiac involvement is a rare occurrence that can affect treatment and prognosis. This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics of cryoglobulinemia with cardiac involvement.Methods: 108 patients diagnosed with cryoglobulinemia who were admitted and treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) between June 1985 and June 2019 were enrolled in the present study. Clinical characteristics, therapy, and prognosis of patients with cardiac involvement were retrospectively analyzed.Results: The cryoglobulinemia with cardiac involvement was found in 7 patients, thus reaching the incidence of 6.5%. Heart failure was the main cardiac manifestation found in these patients, all with the involvement of external cardiac organs. Laboratory examinations showed significant elevation of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) with negative troponin (cTnI). Electrocardiogram (ECG) was generally normal or only showed low-flat and biphasic multi-lead T waves. Echocardiography was performed in 6 patients, all of whom showed enlargement of heart cavity. Five patients had reduced left ventricular myocardial contractible motion with decreased ejection fraction, 3 patients had pericardial effusion, and 1 patient had left ventricular hypertrophy or severe aortic insufficiency. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed delayed myocardial enhancement in 2 patients. One patient underwent a myocardial biopsy, which showed perivasculitis. Condition in 6 patients who received active treatment targeting improved in the early stage. Three patients (3/7, 42.9%) died due to disease progression during follow-up period.Conclusions: Cryoglobulinemia with cardiac involvement is a rare but serious condition that has relatively high risk of death. When patients with cryoglobulinemia without underlying heart disease experience heart failure, chest pain, or elevation of asymptomatic NT-proBNP and BNP, there is a high possibility of cardiac involvement, even if the electrocardiogram and troponin are negative. Further examinations such as echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and myocardial biopsy examination could contribute to the diagnosis. Cardiac manifestations could be timely reversed after active targeted treatment. NT-proBNP and echocardiography could be used for the monitoring of disease efficacy.

Discriminative Utility of Apelin-to-NT-Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide Ratio for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Background: Apelin is a regulatory vasoactive peptide, which plays a pivotal role in adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether serum levels of apelin is associated with HF with preserved election fraction (HFpEF) in patients with T2DM. Methods: The study retrospectively involved 101 T2DM patients aged 41 to 62 years (48 patients with HFpEF and 28 non-HFpEF patients). The healthy control group consisted of 25 individuals with matched age and sex. Data collection included demographic and anthropometric information, hemodynamic performances and biomarkers of the disease. Transthoracic B-mode echocardiography, Doppler and TDI were performed at baseline. Serum levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and apelin were measured by ELISA in all patients at the study entry. Results: Unadjusted multivariate logistic model yielded the only apelin to NT-proBNP ratio (OR = 1.44; p = 0.001), BMI > 34 кг/м2 (OR = 1.07; p = 0.036), NT-proBNP > 458 pmol/mL (OR = 1.17; p = 0.042), LAVI > 34 mL/m2 (OR = 1.06; p = 0.042) and E/e’ > 11 (OR = 1.04; p = 0.044) remained to be strong predictors for HFpEF. After obesity adjustment, multivariate logistic regression showed that the apelin to NT-proBNP ratio < 0.82 × 10−2 units remained sole independent predictor for HFpEF (OR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.18–2.77; p = 0.001) HFpEF in T2DM patients. In conclusion, we found that apelin to NT-proBNP ratio < 0.82 × 10−2 units better predicted HFpEF in T2DM patients than apelin and NT-proBNP alone. This finding could open new approach for CV risk stratification of T2DM at higher risk of HF.

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

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.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and adverse outcomes in Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background: Although numerous studies have suggested that elevated N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is positively correlated with cardiovascular events, especially the heart failure and heart failure-related death (HFRD), evidence of the association between NT-proBNP and the adverse outcomes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is still relatively limited. The present study was performed to evaluate the relationship between NT-proBNP and outcomes in patients with HCM. Methods: Observational cohort methodology was used in this study, and a total of 227 patients were included. And the patients were followed for 44.97 ± 16.37 months. Patients were categorized into three groups according to these NT-proBNP tertiles: first tertile (≤ 910 pg/mL, n=68), second tertile (913-2141 pg/mL, n=68), and third tertile (≥ 2151 pg/mL, n=69). The adverse outcomes of this study were all-cause death (ACD) and cardiac death (CD). Results: According to the risk category of NT-proBNP, the incidences of ACD (P=0.005) and CD (P=0.032) among the three groups showed significant differences. Multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that the ACD and CD in the third tertile have 7.022 folds (hazard risk [HR] =7.022 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.397-35.282], P=0.018) and 7.129 folds ([HR] =7.129 [95% [CI]: 1.329-38.237], P=0.022) increased risks as compared with those in the first tertile. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses showed that the cumulative risks of ACD and CD in patients with HCM tended to increase. Conclusion: The present study indicated NT-proBNP was a novel biomarker suitable for predicting adverse prognosis in patients with HCM, which may be used for early recognition and risk stratification.

The use of N-terminal (1–76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide in the aetiology of severe respiratory distress in the paediatric emergency department

Introduction: Acute respiratory distress is one of the most common reasons for paediatric emergency visits. Paediatric patients require rapid diagnosis and treatment. Our aim in this study was to use N-terminal (1–76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide to differentiate respiratory distress of cardiac and pulmonary origin in children. Our aim was to investigate the role of N-terminal (1–76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide in the detection of patients with new-onset heart failure in the absence of an underlying congenital heart anomaly. Methods: All children aged 0–18 years who presented to the paediatric emergency department due to severe respiratory distress were included in the study prospectively. The patients’ demographic characteristics, presenting complaints, clinical findings, and N-terminal (1–76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentrations, were investigated. In patients with severe Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score, congestive heart failure score was calculated using the modified Ross Score. Results: This study included 47 children between the ages of 1 month and 14 years. The median N-terminal (1–76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration was 5717 (IQR:16158) pg/mL in the 25 patients with severe respiratory distress due to heart failure and in the 22 patients with severe respiratory distress due to lung pathology was 437 (IQR:874) pg/mL (p < 0.001). In the 25 patients with severe respiratory distress due to heart failure, 8281 (IQR:8372) pg/mL in the 16 patients with underlying congenital heart anomalies, and 1983 (IQR:2150) pg/mL in the 9 patients without a congenital heart anomaly (p < 0.001). The 45 patients in the control group had a median N-terminal (1–76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide concentration of 47.2 (IQR:56.2) pg/mL. Conclusion: Using scoring systems in combination with N-terminal (1–76) pro-brain natriuretic peptide cut-off values can help direct and manage treatment.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in neonates due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: An emerging entity

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was declared as a pandemic in March 2020. The virus has affected more adults than children, with disease severity being lesser in children. We present a case of a neonate who tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 infection on day of life 3, 6, and 15. The baby had fever, respiratory distress, and shock. Laboratory investigations showed raised inflammatory markers, raised D dimer suggesting coagulopathy, coronary dilatation on 2D echocardiogram, and raised N terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide. The neonate was successfully treated with good supportive care, lung-protective ventilatory strategies, early intravenous immunoglobulin administration, corticosteroids, and remdesivir.

Biomarkers of heart failure: current state of problem

There is constant increase in patients with heart failure every year worldwide. Early diagnosis and prediction of deterioration could upgrade management of patients and slow down the progression of heart failure.The brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP) is considered to be the universal biomarker, although it has several limitations. The search of ideal biomarker is directed into molecular biology and genetics. Microribonucleic acids (microRNAs) regulate different processes in human body, present myocardial specificity, and plasma stability. It has been proven in different trials that diagnostic and prognostic level of microRNAs is equal to NT-proBNP. Potential opportunities of the method are not only diagnosis but therapeutic targets for heart failure