Novel Biomarkers Predict Death, Myocardial Infarction

H-FABP, NT-pro-BNP are predictors in patients with ischemic-type chest pain

25 jan 2009-- When patients are admitted to the hospital with ischemic-type chest pain, two novel biomarkers can provide useful prognostic information, according to research published in the Jan. 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.

Conor J. McCann, M.D., of Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, United Kingdom, and colleagues studied 664 patients presenting to two coronary care units with ischemic-type chest pain over a three-year period starting in 2003. Patients were followed-up for a year.

The researchers found that heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) and N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) -- in addition to age, left ventricular hypertrophy on initial electrocardiography and peak cardiac troponin T (cTnT) -- were significant independent predictors of death or myocardial infarction within one year. Patients without elevated H-FABP, NT-pro-BNP or peak cTnT were at very low risk of death or myocardial infarction within one year. Patients with high levels of all three were at very high risk, however, the report indicates.

"In conclusion, the measurement of H-FABP and NT-pro-BNP at the time of hospital admission for patients with ischemic-type chest pain adds useful prognostic information to that provided by the measurement of baseline and 12-hour cTnT," the authors write.

Abstract
Full Text