[N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide predicts hospitalization of hemodialysis patients for cardiovascular disease]

We investigated whether or not N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) could predict hospitalization for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Japanese hemodialysis patients. A total of 104 patients on maintenance dialysis 3 times per week were enrolled. We followed the patients for 23.9 +/- 4.2 months and 19 hospitalizations for CVD occurring during this period. The area under the curve (AUC) for the risk of CVD hospitalization was calculated after drawing a receiver operating characteristic curve. Predialysis NT-proBNP showed a larger AUC value than both postdialysis NT-proBNP and brain natriuretic peptide. The optimal cut-off value of predialysis NT-proBNP for predicting CVD hospitalization was 5,894 pg/mL, (sensitivity of 60 % and specificity of 76 %). Diabetes mellitus, a history of CVD, and the predialysis NT-proBNP level were significant determinants of CVD hospitalization according to Cox proportional hazards analysis. In conclusion, predialysis NT-proBNP is useful for predicting CVD hospitalization in hemodialysis patients.