Plasma levels of B-type natriuretic Peptide in patients with unstable angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction: prognostic significance and therapeutic implications.

Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were obtained from 146 patients with unstable angina pectoris, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI), or ST-segment elevation MI to determine their value in predicting the presence of new heart failure, recurrent MI or ischemia, or death 1 month after the index event. Patients with elevated plasma BNP levels (>80 pg/mL) had a significantly higher incidence of new heart failure and all-cause mortality than those with a normal plasma BNP level (