Background: The role of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (proBNP) for the prediction of clinical outcome has not been examined in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE).
Methods and results: ProBNP levels were measured in 73 patients with acute PE within 4 hours of admission. Adverse clinical outcome was defined as in-hospital death or the need for at least 1 of the following: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, pressors, thrombolysis, catheter fragmentation, or surgical embolectomy. In the 53 patients with a benign clinical outcome, proBNP (median 121, range 16 to 34 802 pg/mL) was lower than in 20 patients with adverse clinical outcome (median 4250, range 92 to 49 607 pg/mL; P<0.0001). The negative predictive value of proBNP levels <500 pg/mL to predict adverse clinical outcome was 97% (95% confidence interval 84 to 99). ProBNP remained an independent predictor for adverse clinical outcome (odds ratio 14.6; 95% confidence interval 1.5 to 139.0; P=0.02) after adjusting for severity of PE (submassive/massive), troponin T levels >0.01 ng/mL, age >70 years, gender, and history of congestive heart failure.
Conclusions: Low proBNP levels predict an uneventful hospital course in patients with acute PE. A proBNP level <500 pg/mL identifies patients who will be potential candidates for an abbreviated hospital length of stay or care on a completely outpatient basis.