Circulating natriuretic peptide concentrations in patients with end-stage renal disease: Role of brain natriuretic peptide as a biomarker for ventricular remodeling

Objectives: To determine levels of natriuretic peptides (NPs) in patients w ith end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and to examine the relationship of these cardiovascular peptides to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and to cardi ac mortality. Patients and Methods: One hundred twelve dialysis patients wi thout clinical evidence of congestive heart failure underwent plasma measur ement of NP concentrations and echocardiographic investigation for left ven tricular mass index (LVMI). Results: Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP ) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations correlated positively with LVMI and inversely with left ventricular ejection fraction, whereas C- type NP and Dendroaspis NP levels did not correlate with LVMI. In dialysis patients with LVH (LVMI > 125 g/m(2)), plasma ANP and BNP concentrations we re increased compared with those in dialysis patients without LVH (both P < .001). In a subset of 15 dialysis patients without LVH or other concomitan t diseases, plasma BNP concentrations were not significantly increased comp ared with those in 35 controls (mean +/- SDI 20.1 +/- 13.4 vs 13.5 +/-9.6 p g/mL; P=.06), demonstrating that the BNP concentration was not increased by renal dysfunction alone. Furthermore, the BNP level was significantly high er in the 16 patients who died from cardiovascular causes compared with sur vivors (mean SD, 129 +/- 13 vs 57 +/-7 pg/mL; P < 003) and was significantl y associated with greater risk of cardiovascular death in Cox regression an alysis (P < 001), as was the ANP level (P=.002). Conclusions: Elevation of the plasma BNP concentration is more specifically related to LVH compared w ith the other NP levels in patients with ESRD independent of congestive hea rt failure. Thus, BNP serves as an important plasma biomarker for ventricul ar hypertrophy in dialysis patients with ESRD.