Comparison of BNP and NT-proBNP in the Management of Patients With Chronic and Acute Heart Failure

Both natriuretic peptides (NP), namely B-type NP (BNP) and amino-terminal fragment of proBNP (NT-proBNP), have an established role in the management of patients with heart failure (HF).[1] However, the clinical utility of BNP has recently been questioned with the PARADIGM-HF trial, which demonstrated increased BNP and reduced NT-proBNP levels following the administration of Entresto, a newly approved angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI).[2.3] The increase in BNP was thought to be reflective of reduced metabolism of BNP as a result of neprilysin inhibition.[2] However, this claim was based on observations of three points in time and with wide confidence intervals.[3] In addition, there has been no attempt to demonstrate dose relationships. Furthermore, although both BNP and NT-proBNP have each been shown to predict HF readmission in hospitalized patients [1,4,5] the relative utility between the two NPs for this prediction remains unclear. We therefore hypothesize that once beyond the initiation of ARNI therapy, BNP and NT-proBNP will be equally predictive of clinical events in patients with HF.

The studies comprise of two separate protocols:

A. Outpatient Protocol - the effect of Entresto measuring the changes in the NT-proBNP and BNP test results. This protocol will be conducted on ambulatory outpatients initiating on Entresto. Patients will have blood sampling for the measurements of BNP and NT-proBNP at baseline, at the first and second up titration in dose of Entresto, and at 6 months and 1st year after starting Entresto.

B. Inpatient Protocol-predicting outcomes. This will be conducted on patients admitted for acute decompensated HF. Blood sampling for BNP and NT-proBNP will be collected in different time points (admission, hospital discharge, 30th day, 90th day, and 180th day) and measure its changes.