NT-proBNP levels and QT changes in acute ischemic stroke.

Background: In literature, electrocardiographic (ECG) changes and the increase in the levels of the natriuretic peptide are shown to occur in patients having acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to investigate the association between ECG alterations and NT pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) values in patients having acute ischemic stroke with no known cardiac pathology. Methods: The patients who admitted to the emergency service with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled in the study. Their ECGs were recorded and serum samples were obtained as soon as they arrived into the emergency service. The plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence method. Maximum QT interval, QT dispersion (QTd), corrected QT and corrected QTd (cQT and cQTd) was calculated, for each ECG. The patients were evaluated according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Results: A total of 50 consecutive patients were evaluated. QT intervals for 4 patients (8%) and cQT intervals for 29 patients (58%) were above 440 ms and 11 patients (22%) had QTd values above 50ms and 17 (34%) had cQTd values above 50 ms. The NT- proBNP levels had a negative correlation with the GCS (p=0.001, r= -0.461) and a positive correlation with the NIHSS, cQT, QTd and cQTd (p=0.001, r=0.444, p=0.000, r=0.494, p=0.016, r=0.338 p=0.011, r=0.355, respectively). Conclusions: The NT-proBNP levels in the ischemic stroke patients with no known cardiac pathology were markedly increased, and this increase was found to be associated with the GCS, NIHSS, cQT, QTd and the cQTd interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]