BackgroundN‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) has been associated with important risk factors for contrast‐induced nephropathy (CIN). However, few studies have investigated the predictive value of NT‐proBNP itself. This study investigated whether levels of preprocedural NT‐proBNP could predict CIN after elective coronary angiography as effectively as the Mehran CIN score.Methods and ResultsWe retrospectively observed 2248 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography. The predictive value of preprocedural NT‐proBNP for CIN was assessed by receiver operating characteristic and multivariable logistic regression analysis. The 50 patients (2.2%) who developed CIN had higher Mehran risk scores (9.5±5.1 versus 4.8±3.8), and higher preprocedural levels of NT‐proBNP (5320±7423 versus 1078±2548 pg/mL, P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that NT‐proBNP was not significantly different from the Mehran CIN score in predicting CIN (C=0.7657 versus C=0.7729, P=0.8431). An NT‐proBNP cutoff value of 682 pg/mL predicted CIN with 78% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Multivariable analysis suggested that, after adjustment for other risk factors, NT‐proBNP >682 pg/mL was significantly associated with CIN (odds ratio: 4.007, 95% CI: 1.950 to 8.234; P<0.001) and risk of death (hazard ratio: 2.53; 95% CI: 1.49 to 4.30; P=0.0006).ConclusionsPreprocedural NT‐proBNP >682 pg/mL was significantly associated with the risk of CIN and death. NT‐proBNP, like the Mehran CIN score, may be another useful and rapid screening tool for CIN and death risk assessment, identifying subjects who need therapeutic measures to prevent CIN.

Background Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) are vulnerable to contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), but few prediction models are currently available. Objectives We aimed to establish a simple nomogram for CI-AKI risk assessment for patients with CHF undergoing coronary angiography. Methods A total of 1876 consecutive patients with CHF (defined as New York Heart Association functional class II-IV or Killip class II-IV) were enrolled and randomly (2:1) assigned to a development cohort and a validation cohort. The endpoint was CI-AKI defined as serum creatinine elevation of ≥0.3 mg/dL or 50% from baseline within the first 48–72 hours following the procedure. Predictors for the nomogram were selected by multivariable logistic regression with a stepwise approach. The discriminative power was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and was compared with the classic Mehran score in the validation cohort. Calibration was assessed using the Hosmer–Lemeshow test and 1000 bootstrap samples. Results The incidence of CI-AKI was 9.06% (n=170) in the total sample, 8.64% (n=109) in the development cohort and 9.92% (n=61) in the validation cohort (p=0.367). The simple nomogram including four predictors (age, intra-aortic balloon pump, acute myocardial infarction and chronic kidney disease) demonstrated a similar predictive power as the Mehran score (area under the curve: 0.80 vs 0.75, p=0.061), as well as a well-fitted calibration curve. Conclusions The present simple nomogram including four predictors is a simple and reliable tool to identify CHF patients at risk of CI-AKI, whereas further external validations are needed. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None