Plasma B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels Are Associated With Early Cardiac Dysfunction After

Background and Purpose—Serum B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is elevated after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), as well as in the setting of congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to prospectively quantify the relationship between BNP levels and cardiac outcomes after SAH. Methods—Plasma was collected for BNP measurements as soon as possible after enrollment; a mean of 54 days after SAH symptom onset. On days 1, 3, and 6 after enrollment, troponin I (cTi) was measured and 2-dimensional echocardiography was performed. The following cardiac variables were collected and treated dichotomously: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA), diastolic dysfunction, pulmonary edema, and cTi. Results—There were 57 subjects. The median BNP level was 141 pg/mL (range, 0.8 to 3330 pg/mL). Higher mean BN