Background Elevated levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and NT-pro-BNP can predict
an increased risk of cardiovascular events and ischemic stroke. The limited reliability to
predict the risk of stroke after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) justifies the objective of our
study to determine the role of NT-pro-BNP in patients with TIAs. Methods From our
prospective stroke registry, we performed a retrospective study in all patients with the
diagnosis of TIA admitted to the Stroke Unit of our Hospital between January 2008 and …

We have read a clinical study entitled “NT-pro-BNP: A novel predictor of stroke risk after
transient ischemic attack”[1]. This study revealed that NT-pro-BNP serum levels were higher
in transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients who suffered a stroke, and the greater levels of NT-
pro-BNP, the earlier the stroke happened, regardless of the etiopathogenesis of the TIA. NT-
pro-BNP is an inactive and stable amino acid fragment, secreted from ventricular cardiac
myocytes, which is the response to left ventricular strain or ischemia and has been found to …