Association Between Urinary Escherichia Coli and Plasma NT-proBNP Levels in Patients with Post-Infarction Cardiosclerosis
Abstract:
Background: Recent studies suggest that bacterial endotoxins may influence plasma NT-proBNP levels. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Escherichia coli bacteriuria on NT-proBNP levels in patients with post-myocardial infarction cardiosclerosis (CVS).
Methods: Fifty-six patients diagnosed with post-infarction cardiosclerosis were enrolled. Urine samples were cul tured to detect E. coli using the VITEK 2 system, and plasma NT-proBNP levels were measured by fluorescence immunoassay (AFIAS 10, Boditech, Korea). Based on NT-proBNP levels, patients were divided into two groups: NT-proBNP > 500 pg/mL (n=35) and NT-proBNP < 500 pg/mL (n=21) accordingly the existing recommendations. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0.
Results: E. coli bacteriuria was detected in 67.9% (38/56) of patients. The median [min–max] NT-proBNP level in the E. coli-positive group was 3081.1 (38.1–16083.0) pg/mL, while in patients without bacteriuria it was 348.0 (24.7–7208.0) pg/mL (p=0.003). The frequency of NT-proBNP > 500 pg/mL was significantly higher in the E. coli group (73.68%) compared to patients without bacteriuria (38.89%, p=0.018). The odds ratio (OR) was 0.23 (95% CI: 0.069–0.748, p=0.028), with a number needed to treat (NNT) of 2.87 (95% CI: 1.61–13.39).
Conclusion: The presence of E. coli bacteriuria is associated with significantly elevated NT-proBNP levels in pa tients with post-infarction cardiosclerosis, suggesting that bacterial infection may partly contribute in the biomarker elevation before cardiac dysfunction development.
