Early assessment of outcome in cardiogenic shock: relevance of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and interleukin-6 levels.

Objective: Plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (Nt-pro-BNP) levels are frequently elevated in critically ill patients and are associated with an increased mortality. In this study, we determined Nt-pro-BNP levels in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) and evaluated its association with clinical and hemodynamic parameters and 30-day mortality.

Design: Retrospective study.

New cut-off values of cardiac markers for risk stratification of angina pectoris.

Background: The aim of this present prospective study was to investigate the accuracy of cardiac markers for the prediction of subsequent cardiac events (cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction and recurrent ischemia requiring coronary revascularization).

Methods: Fibrinogen, cardiac troponin T, troponin I, creatine phosphokinase myocardial fraction, C-reactive protein and myoglobin at baseline and after 6 h were measured on 154 patients (109 male, 63+/-11 years) with chest pain. Receiver operator characteristic analyses were performed to determine cut-off points of cardiac markers in prediction of adverse events.