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Background: The TIMI risk score is a clinical scoring system used to predict mortality in patients following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has also been found to be useful in this setting.
Methods: 80 patients (35 men, 45 women) mean (SD) age 70.68 (9.90) years with ACS were studied. Blood was drawn within 12 hours after the onset of ACS and the blood level of BNP was measured using Biosite Triage Cardioprofiler Panel (Biosite Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). Patient's TIMI risk score was recorded and patients were stratified into low (0 - 2), intermediate (3 - 4), and high-risk (5 - 7) groups.
Results: Overall mortality at 18 months was 20% and was related to BNP levels but not the higher TIMI risk scores. Higher BNP levels were related to decreased survival (median (range) ng/mL, survivors: 166 (5 - 4,710) vs. deceased: 1,093.5 (71.3 - 4,840), p < 0.001). The optimal cutoff for the prediction of survival was 250 ng/mL. ACS patients with BNP over this cutoff have demonstrated the lower survival (log rank p < 0.001).
Conclusions: BNP measurement within the first 12 hours following an ACS is more easily performed and is more accurate than a clinical risk score at predicting long term mortality.
DOI: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2012.111201
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