• Jochem Hogenhuis, Adriaan A Voors, Tiny Jaarsma, Arno W Hoes, Hans L Hillege, Johannes A Kragten, and Dirk J van Veldhuisen.
• Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
• Eur. J. Heart Fail. 2007 Aug 1; 9 (8): 787-94.

BackgroundAnaemia may affect B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) levels, but this has not been well described in heart failure (HF) patients without the exclusion of patients with renal dysfunction.AimsTo study the influence of both anaemia and renal function on BNP and NT-proBNP levels in a large group of hospitalised HF patients.Methods And ResultsWe studied 541 patients hospitalised for HF (mean age 71+/-11 years, 62% male, and left ventricular ejection fraction 0.33+/-0.14). Of these patients, 30% (n=159) were anaemic (women: Hb<7.5 mmol/l, men: Hb<8.1 mmol/l). Of the 159 anaemic patients, 73% had renal dysfunction (eGFR<60 ml/min/1.73 m2) and of the non-anaemic patients, 57% had renal dysfunction. BNP and NT-proBNP levels were measured in all patients before discharge. In multivariable analyses both plasma haemoglobin and eGFR were independently related to the levels of BNP and NT-proBNP (standardised beta's of -0.16, -0.14 [BNP] and -0.19, -0.26 [NT-proBNP] respectively, P-values<0.01).ConclusionAnaemia and renal dysfunction are related to increased BNP and NT-proBNP levels, independent of the severity of HF. These results indicate that both anaemia and renal dysfunction should be taken into consideration during the interpretation of BNP and NT-proBNP levels in HF patients.

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