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While beta blockade improves left ventricular (LV) function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), the mechanisms are not well known. This study aimed to examine whether changes in myocardial collagen metabolism account for LV functional recovery following beta-blocker therapy in 62 CHF patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF). LV function was echocardiographically measured at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 months after bisoprolol therapy along with serum markers of collagen metabolism including C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I (CITP) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2. Deceleration time of mitral early velocity (DcT) increased even in the early phase, but LVEF gradually improved throughout the study period. Heart rate (HR) was reduced from the early stage, and CITP gradually decreased. LVEF and DcT increased more so in patients with the larger decreases in CITP (r = -0.33, p < 0.05; r = -0.28, p < 0.05, respectively), and HR (r = -0.31, p < 0.05; r = -0.38, p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, there were greater decreases in CITP, MMP-2 and HR from baseline to 1, 6, or 12 months in patients with above-average improvement in LVEF than in those with below-average improvement in LVEF. Similar results were obtained in terms of DcT. There was no significant correlation between the changes in HR and CITP. In conclusion, improvement in LV systolic/diastolic function was greatest in patients with the larger inhibition of collagen degradation. Changes in myocardial collagen metabolism are closely related to LV functional recovery somewhat independently from HR reduction.

The mitral early to late diastolic flow velocity ratio (E/A ratio) is age-dependent. It has been considered that its age dependency reflects the age-related lengthening of left ventricular (LV) relaxation; however, the change in E/A ratio is far larger than that expected from those in LV relaxation. We hypothesized that an age-related reduction of the parasympathetic activity increases left atrial (LA) contractility, and that this accounts for the age-related change in E/A ratio. (1) Exercise stress test was performed in 61 normal subjects (age range, 8-80 years, mean, 40 years) to assess heart rate (HR) recovery because slowed HR recovery indicates lowered parasympathetic activity. There were good interrelations among age, E/A ratio, and HR recovery. Among those aged ≤30 years, the age no longer correlated with E/A ratio or HR recovery, but there was a significant correlation between HR recovery and E/A ratio (r = 0.44, p < 0.05). (2) Pulsed Doppler and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) were performed before and after administration of parasympathetic blockade (atropine) in ten young healthy subjects. LA booster pump function was assessed with LA emptying index calculated by 2DSTE. LA emptying index was calculated from ([LA volume before the atrial contraction - minimal LA volume]/LA volume before the atrial contraction) × 100. Atropine increased mitral A velocity (p < 0.001) and LA emptying index (p < 0.05) along with a decrease in E/A ratio (p < 0.001). Parasympathetic withdrawal enhances LA contraction and increases mitral A velocity, which likely cause a reciprocal decrease in mitral E velocity and E/A ratio. Thus, parasympathetic deactivation with aging should be closely involved in the age-related change in mitral E/A ratio.

Background: Plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) is related to cardiac remodeling in patients with hypertension. However, we do not know the detailed relationship between changes in PAC and regression of left atrial (LA) volume following long-term treatment with angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) or calcium-channel blocker (CCB)., Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of anti-hypertensive monotherapy, an ARB irbesartan or a CCB amlodipine, on PAC and LA reverse remodeling in hypertensive patients., Methods: A total of 48 patients with untreated hypertension were randomly assigned to irbesartan (ARB group, n=26) and amlodipine (CCB group, n=22). We examined the correlation between LA volume index (LAVI) and other echocardiographic parameters or PAC (n=40) at the baseline and after 12 months of treatment., Results: After 12 months, blood pressure (BP) decreased similarly in both groups. LAVI and PAC significantly decreased in the ARB group, but not in the CCB group (-16±8% vs. 22±9%, p<0.01, -16±9% vs. 11±9%, p<0.05). Larger %-decrease in PAC was associated with larger %-reduction of LAVI in the ARB group (r=0.54, p<0.05), but not in the CCB group., Conclusions: While BP reduction was similar between the two groups, decrease in LA volume was larger in the ARB group than in the CCB group. Decrease in LA volume was larger in patients with a greater decrease in PAC than in those with smaller decrease in PAC. ARB may facilitate reverse remodeling of LA through decreases in PAC in hypertensive patients., (Copyright © 2013 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Thyroid hormone is associated with arterial stiffness and left ventricular diastolic function in hypothyroid disease. The relationship of thyroid hormone level to cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and left ventricular diastolic function, however, remains unclear in subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism., Methods and Results: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 83 patients with untreated subclinical hypothyroidism and compared them with 83 randomly selected controls from health check-ups. Log N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and arterial stiffness were measured. In addition, we measured early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E') in 43 participants with subclinical hypothyroidism and in 40 controls. When compared with the control group, patients with subclinical hypothyroidism had higher logNT-proBNP (1.9±0.5 vs. 1.7±0.3pg/ml, P<0.05), CRP (0.22±0.04 vs. 0.09±0.06mg/dl, P<0.05), and CAVI (8.8±1.7 vs. 7.8±1.4, P<0.001) and lower E' (5.8±1.7 vs. 7.5±2.1cm/s, P<0.001). CAVI was significantly associated with logNT-proBNP, CRP and E' in the subclinical hypothyroidism group., Conclusions: High logNT-proBNP was associated with a raised CAVI in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism may be a risk factor for cardiovascular events related to arterial stiffening and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Background: The mechanisms are unknown why aortic stenosis (AS) progresses faster in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) than those with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). The objective of this study is to examine whether neoangiogenesis, haemorrhage in the aortic valve leaflet (intraleaflet haemorrhage) and macrophage infiltration are involved in the mechanisms of rapid progression of AS with BAV., Methods: We retrospectively examined specimens of aortic valve leaflets obtained from patients who had undergone aortic valve replacement for AS (AS with BAV: n=22, AS with TAV: n=86). The stenotic valve leaflets were examined by immunohistochemistry to detect vascular endothelial cells, red blood cell remnant and macrophage. We assessed the progression of AS by annualized changes in the aortic valve area (ΔAVA: cm(2)/year) which was evaluated by serial echocardiography with the continuity equation., Results: Neoangiogenesis, intraleaflet haemorrhage and macrophage infiltration were frequently observed in leaflets obtained from AS patients with BAV (neoangiogenesis: 82%, intraleaflet haemorrhage: 91%, macrophage infiltration 91%). These pathological changes were more severe in AS with BAV than TAV, and they were positively correlated with progression of AS in patients with BAV. Multivariated analysis revealed that bicuspid anatomy was the only factor that predicted neoangiogenesis, intraleaflet haemorrhage and macrophage infiltration when patients with BAV and those with TAV were combined., Conclusions: Neoangiogenesis, intraleaflet haemorrhage and macrophage infiltration are more severe in leaflets from AS with BAV than TAV and associated with rapid progression of AS with BAV. This pathological process may account for rapid progression of AS with BAV., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level is elevated in patients with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy reflecting not only altered LV geometry but LV systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction. However, the values and limitations of BNP measurements are unclear in patients with untreated hypertension. In this study, plasma BNP level was compared with LV geometric and functional characteristics in patients with untreated hypertension., Methods: Plasma BNP level was measured in 115 patients with untreated hypertension (72 males, 43 females, aged 60 ± 12 years). Routine echo parameters of LV geometry and LV systolic and diastolic performance were also determined., Results: LV ejection fraction was 67 ± 6% and plasma BNP level was 32 ± 30 pg/ml. Plasma BNP levels correlated with age, LV mass index (LVMI), and mitral E velocity, respectively (r = 0.46, p < 0.05; r = 0.21, p < 0.05; r = 0.29, p < 0.05, respectively), but not with systolic blood pressure or relative wall thickness (r = 0.01; r = -0.02). Plasma BNP level correlated with E/E' ratio (r = 0.27, p < 0.05, n = 77). When a stepwise multivariate analysis was performed, E velocity was selected in addition to age and LVMI as significant correlates of plasma BNP level., Conclusions: LVMI and E velocity were independent determinants of plasma BNP level in patients with untreated hypertension. Plasma BNP level is substantially useful for the screening of abnormalities of LV geometry and/or function in patients with untreated hypertension. Additional echocardiography is useful to assess the mechanism of the elevation of plasma BNP level in untreated hypertensive patients.

Background: Zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) have a higher rate of neointimal coverage than the first-generation drug-eluting stents on optical coherence tomography (OCT)., Objective: To determine whether neointimal coverage of stent struts detected by OCT can be used as a surrogate for endothelial function after ZES implantation., Design: Cross-sectional observational study., Setting: Three months after ZES implantation., Patients and Methods: OCT was performed in 20 patients with a ZES at 3 months after stent implantation to evaluate strut coverage. Endothelium-dependent coronary vasomotion was estimated by infusing incremental doses of acetylcholine into the coronary ostium. The vascular response was measured in the 10&emsp14;mm segments proximal and distal to the stent., Results: Of 20 ZES, 15 (75%) were covered completely with neointima, but the remaining 5 ZES had exposed struts. The high-dose acetylcholine infusion produced significant vasoconstriction in the proximal (-9.8±10.1%) and the distal stent segment (-29.7±22.7%). However, the degree of vasoconstriction to acetylcholine varied between individuals (from -0.6% to -77%). Although no relationship was observed between coronary vasomotor response (percentage change in diameter after acetylcholine administration) and average neointimal thickness, the number of cross-sections with uncovered struts showed an inverse correlation with coronary vasomotor response in proximal and distal stent segments (r=-0.57, p=0.007 and r=-0.83, p<0.001, respectively)., Conclusions: The existence of exposed struts was associated with abnormal vasoconstriction to acetylcholine at 3 months after ZES implantation. The findings suggest that complete neointimal coverage of stent struts assessed by OCT could be used as a surrogate for vasomotion impairment at 3 months after ZES implantation.

It is almost unknown which demographic factors or medications affect the progression of aortic stenosis (AS) in Japanese patients with mild AS. We identified a total of 194 patients with native tricuspid valvular AS, defined as a continuous-wave Doppler determined peak aortic valve jet velocity of ≥ 2.0 m/s, in whom echo Doppler studies were repeated at an interim of at least 6 months. Annualized change in peak jet velocity was calculated, and effects of age, sex, diabetes mellitus, blood pressure, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, and use of statins and antihypertensive agents on the progression of AS were retrospectively evaluated. Peak aortic valve jet velocity was 2.36 ± 0.79 m/s (mean ± SD) and annualized increase in peak aortic valve jet velocity was 0.17 ± 0.32 m/s/year for all the studied patients. The increase in peak aortic valve jet velocity was lower in patients taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) than in those not taking ACE-Is (0.04 ± 0.22 vs. 0.20 ± 0.32 m/s/year, P < 0.05). Such protective associations were not observed for other first-line antihypertensive agents and statins. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that ACE-I treatment, decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction, and higher peak aortic valve jet velocity at the first echocardiogram were associated with slower progression of AS. Administration of ACE-Is was associated with the slow progression of mild AS in Japanese patients. Prospective study to assess this hypothesis is needed.

Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of pravastatin pre-treatment on post-procedural index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) values that are introduced for assessing the status of the microcirculation independently of the epicardial area., Background: Pre-treatment with statins decreased the incidence of cardiac enzyme increase after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, 2 different etiologies, distal embolization of atheroma or ischemia caused by side-branch occlusion, cannot be differentiated by measuring cardiac enzyme levels., Methods: Eighty patients with stable angina were randomly assigned to either pravastatin treatment (20 mg/day, n = 40) or no treatment (n = 40) 4 weeks before elective PCI. An intracoronary pressure/temperature sensor-tipped guidewire was used. Thermodilution curves were obtained during maximal hyperemia. The IMR was calculated from the ratio of the mean distal coronary pressure at maximal hyperemia to the inverse of mean hyperemic transit time. Creatine kinase-myocardial band and troponin I values were measured at baseline and at 8 and 24 h after PCI., Results: Post-PCI troponin I levels tended to be lower in patients with pravastatin treatment (median: 0.13 [interquartile range (IQR): 0.10 to 0.31] vs. 0.22 [IQR: 0.10 to 0.74] ng/ml, p = 0.1). However, patients with pravastatin treatment had significantly lower IMR than did patients without pravastatin treatment (median: 12.6 [IQR: 8.8 to 18.0] vs. 17.6 [IQR: 9.7 to 33.9], p = 0.007). Multivariate analysis revealed that the lack of pravastatin pre-treatment was the only independent predictor of post-PCI impaired IMR (p = 0.03)., Conclusions: Post-PCI measurement of the IMR confirmed that pre-treatment with pravastatin was associated with reduced microvascular dysfunction induced by PCI regardless of side branch occlusions. These data suggest that pre-treatment with statin is desired in patients undergoing elective PCI. (The Impact of Pravastatin Pretreatment on Periprocedural Microcirculatory Damage After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; UMIN000002885)., (Copyright © 2011 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The haemorrhage in the plaque (intraplaque haemorrhage) plays a critical role in the progression of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether the haemorrhage in the aortic valve leaflet (intraleaflet haemorrhage) accelerates the progression of aortic valve stenosis (AS)., Methods and Results: We examined specimens of aortic valve leaflets obtained from 36 patients who had undergone aortic valve replacement for degenerative AS and in whom echocardiographic data were available just before the operation and at least 180 days before the last study. The stenotic valves were examined by immunohistochemistry to detect intraleaflet haemorrhage with antibody against glycophorin A, an erythrocyte-specific protein. The progression of AS was assessed by annualized change in the aortic valve area (ΔAVA: cm(2)/year). The patients were divided into two groups, namely the rapid progression group (ΔAVA ≥ 0.1 cm(2)/year) and the slow progression group (ΔAVA < 0.1 cm(2)/year), according to the reported average progression rate of AS. Intraleaflet haemorrhage was observed in 78 % of the specimens. Intraleaflet haemorrhage was associated with neovascularization and macrophage infiltration. The areas of intraleaflet haemorrhage and macrophage infiltration were greater in the rapid progression group than in the slow progression group. Multivariate analysis has shown that the area of intraleaflet haemorrhage was the sole independent factor that positively correlated with ΔAVA., Conclusions: Intraleaflet haemorrhage was frequently observed in the valve leaflets of degenerative AS and associated with a rapid progression of AS.

Background: Aldosterone is known to bring about damage to various organs; however, it is unclear how important the changes in plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) are as contributors to regression of left-ventricular (LV) mass in hypertensive patients following long-term treatment with calcium channel blockers (CCBs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)., Objective: To assess the importance of changes in PAC during antihypertensive treatment., Methods: Forty-four untreated hypertensive patients were randomly assigned to either CCB (amlodipine) group or ARB (losartan) group. In addition to PAC measurements LV geometry was echocardiographically assessed with LV mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness (RWT) before and 6 and 12 months after treatment., Results: Reduction of systolic blood pressure (SBP) in 12 months was greater in the CCB group than in the ARB group (-19 ± 8 vs. -11 ± 15%, P < 0.05 as percentage reduction from the values before treatment). PAC decreased in 12 months in the ARB group but not in the CCB group (-31 ± 31 vs. 17 ± 53%, P < 0.01 as percentage reduction from the values before treatment). Larger percentage drop in PAC was associated with larger percentage reduction of LVMI (r = 0.45, P < 0.01 for all). Multiple step-wise regression analysis showed that the percentage reduction of LVMI is related to the percentage changes in SBP and the percentage changes in PAC (r = 0.46, P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Regression of LV mass was the larger in patients with the greater decrease in PAC associated with antihypertensive medication regardless of CCB or ARB. Changes in PAC and SBP may be key determinants of regression of LV mass in hypertensive patients regardless of the medication selected.

We describe the case of a 62-year-old man with biopsy-proven cardiac involvement of multiple myeloma-associated immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis, whose cardiac function improved after bortezomib therapy. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and diuretics were initially administered, resulting in improvement of heart failure symptoms and disappearance of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. To reduce production of amyloidogenic precursor proteins, bortezomib therapy combined with dexamethasone was subsequently started. Hematological responses were rapid and adverse events were manageable. At present, 15 months after the treatment, cardiac function of the patient showed sustained improvement, although follow-up biopsy specimens showed persistent amyloid deposition in the myocardium corresponding to echocardiogram results demonstrating no reduction in ventricular wall thickness.

Adiponectin is a cardioprotective adipocytokine. Serum adiponectin concentration decreases in patients who are obese but increases in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). The aim of this study was to explore the temporal changes in serum adiponectin concentration following treatment for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Serum adiponectin was measured on admission and at discharge in 95 patients who were admitted to our hospital with ADHF. Ten patients without heart failure (HF) served as controls. Serum adiponectin concentration was higher on admission in HF patients than in the controls (22.6±13.3 μg/mL vs 9.3±3.9 μg/mL, P<.01). Serum adiponectin concentration decreased after treatment in HF patients (18.0±11.7 μg/mL vs 22.6±13.3 μg/mL, P<.01). The larger temporal decrease in adiponectin level in ADHF was associated with the lower incidence of cardiac death or HF hospitalizations (log-rank, P<.05). Serum adiponectin concentration was elevated in ADHF and decreased following the treatment. How much serum adiponectin decreases in response to treatment in ADHF is an important determinant of the prognosis., (© 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Cytokines play important roles in heart failure (HF). We examined whether cytokine levels are different in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients between with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSDF) and with preserved LV ejection function (PLVEF). We studied 81 HF patients who were admitted to our hospital with acute decompensation. They were divided into two groups: LVSDF (LVEF)<45% and PLVEF (LVEF45%). Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and IL-18 and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured on admission and at discharge. On admission, IL-6 and hsCRP were higher in LVSDF than in PLVEF. IL-6 and hsCRP decreased after treatment in LVSDF, but not in PLVEF, while plasma BNP levels decreased in both HF with treatment. There was no difference in TNF-alpha or in IL-18 level between LVSDF and PLVEF, and they did not change after treatment in either group. In conclusion, cytokine profiles were different in ADHF between those with LVSDF and PLVEF. Activation of IL-6-hsCRP pathway may play a specific role in ADHF with LVSDF., (2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The etiology of anemia is still unclear in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Hepcidin is an iron regulatory peptide that is synthesized in the liver to suppress iron absorption and utilization. Hepcidin synthesis is suppressed by anemia, hypoxia and erythropoiesis, and induced by inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), increase the synthesis of hepcidin, resulting in anemia of inflammation (AI). The serum hepcidin concentration in CHF patients with anemia was measured in order to better understand anemia in CHF., Methods and Results: Serum hepcidin-25, erythropoietin (EPO), ferritin and IL-6 concentrations were measured in 61 CHF patients. Among these patients, 36 patients had anemia. A group of 16 patients without cardiac disease or anemia were recruited as controls. Serum IL-6 and EPO were higher and hepcidin-25 was lower in CHF patients with anemia than in controls. Hepcidin-25 correlated with EPO and ferritin but not with IL-6. Results of multivariable regression analysis showed that independent predictors of serum hepcidin-25 included EPO and ferritin but not IL-6., Conclusions: Serum hepcidin-25 concentrations were regulated by iron storage and erythropoiesis but not by IL-6 in CHF patients with anemia. These findings might indicate that AI is a minor cause of anemia in CHF.

Echocardiographically determined inappropriateness of left ventricular mass (LVM) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. Although LV hypertrophy is associated with an increase in the plasma brain natriuretic peptide level and decreased LV diastolic filling, it is unknown whether the inappropriateness of LVM affects them. We studied 77 untreated hypertensive patients (49 men, 28 women, aged 59+/-12 years). The plasma brain natriuretic peptide level was measured, in addition to routine echo Doppler indexes of LV geometry and function. The appropriateness of LVM to cardiac workload was evaluated by the ratio of the observed LVM to the value predicted for individual sex, stroke work and height(2.7) (oLVM/pLVM). Multivariate analysis showed that the plasma brain natriuretic peptide level increased with LVM index but decreased when oLVM/pLVM increased. The ratio of the peak early diastolic flow velocity of mitral flow to the peak early diastolic velocity of mitral annulus (E/E') correlated not only with oLVM/pLVM but also with the LVM index (r=0.30, P<0.05; r=0.37, P<0.05, respectively). However, when a multiple stepwise regression analysis was carried out, only LVM index was determined to be a significant correlate of the E/E' ratio, indicating that the inappropriateness of LVM does not affect the E/E' ratio in hypertensive patients. Brain natriuretic peptide levels are influenced not only by the extent of LV hypertrophy but also by the inappropriateness of hypertrophy in untreated hypertensive patients. Diastolic filling is mostly affected by the extent of LV hypertrophy and not by the appropriateness of hypertrophy.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important roles in progression of chronic heart failure (HF) by regulating cardiac extracellular matrix metabolism. However, there is no report to investigate the difference of circulating MMP-1 and MMP-2 levels between systolic HF (SHF) and diastolic HF (DHF), particularly in light of acute exacerbation of HF. We assessed 110 HF patients who were admitted because of an acute exacerbation. They were divided into two groups: SHF [n = 68, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45%] or DHF (n = 42, LVEF > or =45%). Ten patients without HF served as controls. Serum MMP-1 and MMP-2, and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were examined on admission and at discharge. Serum MMP-1 level was higher on admission in both SHF and DHF than in controls. It was higher in SHF than in DHF and did not change at discharge in both groups. Serum MMP-2 level was equally higher on admission in SHF and DHF than in controls. It decreased in both groups at discharge. Treatment-induced changes in LVEF and BNP level correlated with those in MMP-2 level in SHF but not in DHF. Circulating MMP-1 and MMP-2 levels showed different dynamics between SHF and DHF in acute exacerbation and after treatment. These differences in circulating MMP-1 and MMP-2 levels may be related to the phenotype of HF.

Background: Delayed gadolinium enhancement (DGE) in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging indicates the areas with myocardial fibrosis, which are suggested to be arrhythmogenic substrate in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Elevated brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is associated with cardiovascular events in HCM. We investigated the grade of DGE in CMR and plasma BNP levels in HCM patients with or without symptomatic ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF)., Methods and Results: We recruited 26 consecutive untreated HCM patients without any symptoms of heart failure. They were divided into 2 groups: (1) patients with symptomatic VT/VF [VT/VF(+) group, n=6]; (2) patients without symptomatic VT/VF [VT/VF(-) group, n=20]. CMR was performed to evaluate left ventricular geometry and the grade of DGE. Plasma BNP levels, left ventricular mass index, and the number of segments with positive DGE were greater in the VT/VF(+) group than in the VT/VF(-) group (698.1+/-387.6 vs. 226.9+/-256.8 pg/ml, p=0.006; 152.3+/-49.5 vs. 89.5+/-24.1 g/m(2), p=0.003; 9.7+/-5.7 vs. 3.5+/-3.3, p=0.013). On logistic regression, adjusted odds ratio for symptomatic VT/VF was 214 for logBNP (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-37,043, p=0.04) and 1.54 for DGE score (95% CI 1.01-2.34, p=0.04)., Conclusions: High plasma BNP levels and the enlarged area of DGE in CMR were associated with symptomatic ventricular tachyarrhythmia. These factors may be useful markers for detecting high-risk patients of sudden cardiac death in HCM.

Plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is widely used as a biomarker of heart failure (HF); however, its concentration is often found to be high even in apparently healthy subjects and little is known about which factors contribute to physiological change in plasma BNP concentration in subjects without HF. We examined the effects of gender, age, and anemia on plasma BNP concentration in apparently healthy subjects. The study population consisted of 1036 healthy subjects who underwent an annual health examination at their company in 2005. There were 874 women, ranging in age from 30 to 63 years (mean, 41 years). Plasma BNP concentration was abnormal (> 18.4 pg/mL) in 292 subjects. The incidence was significantly higher in women than in men (31% versus 14%, P < 0.01). Mean plasma BNP concentration was higher in women than in men. The difference in plasma BNP concentration was associated with the difference in blood hemoglobin and age. Logarithmically transformed BNP concentration correlated inversely with blood hemoglobin (r = -0.30, P < 0.01 for all; r = -0.21, P < 0.01 for women; r = -0.20, P < 0.01 for men). By multiple regression analysis, logarithmically transformed BNP concentration correlated with hemoglobin, age, and gender. In conclusion, anemia is likely a critical determinant that elevates plasma BNP concentration in apparently healthy subjects.