OBJECTIVETo observe the serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) changes post acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSThe serum BNP level was determined in 230 consecutive patients with AMI admitted to CCU and in 111 normal cases from October 2002 to October 2003 in Fuwai Hospital. The 230 AMI patients were further divided into various subgroups according to first or recurrent AMI, ST elevations myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-ST elevations myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) group, infarction location, coronary arteries involved, infarction related arteries (IRA), TIMI blood flow of IRA and primary PCI or not. Serum BNP, CK-MB, TnT and heart function were analyzed.

RESULTSThe serum BNP level was significantly increased in patients with AMI (553.7 +/- 735.1) ng/L than that in normal subjects [(26.4 +/- 27.4) ng/L, P < 0.05]. LVEF was significantly lower, and LVEDd, BNP and LnBNP were all significantly higher in the first time AMI group compared to recurrent AMI group (all P < 0.001). The BNP level were significantly higher in AMI patients with single or triple coronary arteries stenosis than those without coronary stenosis (P < 0.05), in TIMI blood flow 0 - 1 and 2 groups than in TIMI 3 group (all P < 0.001). The CK-MB and TnT were significantly increased while BNP significantly decreased in the patients underwent primary PCI group compared with patients did not receive PCI therapy (all P < 0.05 - 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSerum BNP was significantly elevated in patients after AMI but decreased after successful primary PCI in patients with AMI.