B-type natriuretic peptide kinetics and cardiopulmonary exercise testing in heart failure

Background In patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is related to peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) and the relationship between minute ventilation and carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2 slope). However, the exercise response depends on the mode of exercise. This study sought to compare peak treadmill and bicycle exercise responses with respect to their relationship with BNP and to assess whether BNP measured at rest or during exercise could identify patients with greater functional impairment and ventilatory inefficiency. Methods Twenty-three patients with mild-to-moderate stable systolic CHF (age 72 ± 8 years, left ventricular ejection fraction 32 ± 7%) underwent treadmill and bicycle cardiopulmonary exercise testing within 5 (interquartile range 3–7) days. BNP was measured at rest and at peak exercise. Results BNP at rest was an independent multivariate predictor of both peak VO2 and the VE/VCO2 slope for both exercise modes. However, the proportion of variance explained univariately and multivariately was ≤ 0.55, indicating that BNP did not strongly explain the variation of peak VO2 and the VE/VCO2 slope. The exercise-induced rise in circulating BNP did not differ between the test modes [treadmill: 50 (24–89) pg/ml vs. bicycle: 46 (15–100) pg/ml; p = 0.73]. BNP levels at peak exercise were strongly related to resting values, but did not provide additional information on peak VO2 or the VE/VCO2 slope. Conclusions In typical CHF patients, BNP measured at rest or at peak exercise does not strongly predict peak VO2 or the VE/VCO2 slope regardless of the exercise mode, and is therefore not a sufficiently accurate surrogate for cardiopulmonary exercise testing.