Plasma NT-pro BNP Concentrations in Patients with Hypertensive Chronic Kidney Disease

Background and aims: plasma n-amino terminal fragment of the prohormone b-type natriuretic peptide (nt-probnp) is produced and released from cardiac ventricles; it is elevated in patient with heart failure, hypertension and chronic kidney disease (ckd). this study aims to examine the plasma levels of nt- probnp and their relationship in hypertensive patients with or without ckd. methods: our study population consisted of 129 patients with hypertensive ckd (stage 1-4) (group 1) and 41 controls with hypertensive normal kidney function (groups 2). patients with ckd were divided into two groups. group 1a (n=89) with diabetes mellitus, group 1b (n=40) without diabetes mellitus. serum creatinine, nt-probnp concentrations and proteinuria were analyzed and glomerular filtration rate, blood pressure, weight, height were measured. results: the patients with hypertensive ckd were older compared to the controls (p=0.047), bmi was not statistically significant (p>0.05). nt-pro bnp concentrations were significantly elevated in the group 1, com- pared to the group 2 (p=0.007). notably, there was no significant difference between group 1a and group 1b (p>0.05). nt-probnp concentrations correlated positively with longer diabetes duration (r=0.34, p=0.001), proteinuria (r=0.30, p=0.001) and negatively with bmi (r=-0.20, p=0.02) and gfr (r=-0.29, p=0.001). conclusions: in patients with hypertensive ckd, levels of nt-probnp concentrations are increased. there was no significant difference between diabetic and non diabetic patients with ckd. because of the relation- ship between proteinuria and pro-bnp, increased plasma nt-probnp concentrations may be a risk factor for the progression of renal disease. the relationship between elevated nt-probnp and proteinuria should be further investigated.