Long-term stability of endogenous B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) in frozen plasma samples.

The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term stability of endogenous B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) in plasma samples stored at -20 degrees C without addition of protease inhibitors (e.g., aprotinin).

Comparison of the automated AxSYM and ADVIA centaur immunoassays for homocysteine determination.

A new fully automated chemiluminescence assay for total homocysteine (tHcy) determination (ADVIA Centaur homocysteine, Bayer) was evaluated in comparison with a previously established fluorescence polarization assay (AxSYM homocysteine, Abbott). Linearity could be demonstrated in a concentration range up to 50 micromol/l for both methods. The detection limit was 0.

Biochemical diagnosis of impaired left ventricular ejection fraction--comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP).

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) for the detection of mild/moderate and severe impairment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). In 180 subjects BNP and NT-proBNP were measured by two novel fully automated chemiluminescent assays (Bayer and Roche methods). LVEF as determined by echocardiography was categorized as normal (> 60%), mildly/moderately reduced (35-60%) and severely diminished (< 35%).

Head-to-head comparison of the diagnostic utility of BNP and NT-proBNP in symptomatic and asymptomatic structural heart disease.

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and the amino-terminal fragment of the BNP prohormone (NT-proBNP) are markers for functional cardiac impairment and are elevated in heart failure (HF). Aim of the present study was to perform a head-to-head comparison of the diagnostic utility of BNP and NT-proBNP in symptomatic and asymptomatic structural heart disease.

Methods: We prospectively classified 180 consecutive subjects according to ACC/AHA guidelines.

Monitoring aspirin 100 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg therapy with the PFA-100 device in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

A tool to identify vascular patients who receive antiplatelet therapy nd to distinguish between responders and non-responders to antiplatelet therapy could be of clinical importance. The present observational study was designed to investigate whether the PFA-100 device (Dade Behring) is suitable to detect long-term therapy of aspirin (100 mg/d) and/or clopidogrel (75 mg/d) in a cohort of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). A total of 150 consecutive patients with PAD were studied; 34 patients were excluded from the study due to irregular intake of antiplatelet therapy or due to method limitations.

Relation between homocysteine and non-fatal stroke in peripheral arterial disease.

There are currently no data on whether high total serum homocysteine (tHcy) is predictive for cerebrovascular events in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether high tHcy levels were related to the evidence of non-fatal stroke in PAD. Evidence of non-fatal atherothrombotic stroke events was verified in 450 consecutive male patients, admitted for inpatient treatment of symptomatic PAD.

Erythrocyte mean cellular volume and its relation to serum homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folate.

Cobalamin (B12) and folate deficiency is related to both increased erythrocyte mean cellular volume (MCV) and raised serum total homocysteine (tHcy) values. Furthermore, there are indications that B12 and folate serum values do not represent the tissue status of the two vitamins exactly. Therefore, a direct relationship between MCV and tHcy, if demonstrated, could support the hypothesis that tHcy is a better indicator for the cited vitamin status than the serum levels of B12 and folate.

Total serum homocysteine--a predictor of extracranial carotid artery stenosis in male patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.

High total serum homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations are associated with an increased risk of carotid artery disease in the general population. Since patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have a threefold risk of cerebrovascular morbidity compared to individuals free of PAD, and since the total neurological event rate is associated with a > or = 50% lumen reduction in extracranial carotid arteries, it was tested whether tHcy is a predictor of internal carotid artery stenosis in patients with symptomatic PAD. A total of 443 consecutive male PAD patients without previous carotid surgery/stenting were studied.

Impact of atherosclerotic risk factors on the anatomical distribution of peripheral arterial disease.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine predictors of hemodynamically relevant atherosclerosis (HRA) in different segments of lower limb arteries in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Methods: In a retrospective case-control study 106 hospitalized consecutive patients with symptomatic PAD and 52 asymptomatic control subjects were studied. All patients underwent distal aortofemoral angiography.

Association between erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume and peripheral arterial disease in male subjects: a case control study.

Elevated serum total homocysteine, an established risk factor for peripheral arterial disease, is influenced by the vitamin B12 and folate status. Since these vitamins are inversely correlated with erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume, an investigation of whether mean corpuscular volume is higher in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease than in healthy subjects was performed. Furthermore, a determination of predictors of increased mean corpuscular volume levels in this population free of symptomatic coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus was carried out.