NT‐pro‐BNP in patients with left ventricular hypertrabeculation/non‐compaction

AIMS: Left ventricular hypertrabeculation/non‐compaction (LVHT) is a cardiac abnormality of unknown pathogenesis and frequently associated with neuromuscular disorders. The N‐terminal fragment of the pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐pro‐BNP) is a prognostic marker in heart failure whose relevance in LVHT patients is largely unknown. The aim of the study was to assess the role of NT‐pro‐BNP levels as prognostic markers in LVHT. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data of LVHT patients were collected in a database from one echocardiographic laboratory since 1996. The hospital information system was screened for measurements of NT‐pro‐BNP levels, and their association with clinical and echocardiographic baseline parameters was retrospectively assessed. During follow‐up, the endpoints were death and heart transplantation. In 113 patients (median age 57 years, 24% women), data about NT‐pro‐BNP measurements were found, ranging from 8 to 121 152 (median 2029) ng/L. High NT‐pro‐BNP levels were associated with heart failure, valvular abnormalities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, angina pectoris, number of LVHT‐affected segments, end‐diastolic diameter, and systolic dysfunction. During a follow‐up of 73 (±64; 0–237) months, 35% of the patients reached an endpoint. High NT‐pro‐BNP levels were associated with the occurrence of an endpoint (P < 0.001). By multivariate analysis, predictors for endpoints were increased age (P = 0.0025), atrial fibrillation (P = 0.0023), natural logarithm of NT‐pro‐BNP levels (P = 0.0073), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.014), and thromboembolic events before diagnosis (P = 0.0347). CONCLUSIONS: Also in LVHT patients, high NT‐pro‐BNP levels are indicators for death and heart transplantation.