Plasma amino-terminal propeptide of C-type natriuretic peptide concentration in normal-weight and obese children

Objective: in studies on the relationship between amino-terminal propeptide of c-type natriuretic peptide (nt-procnp) concentration and height velocity in children,cnp has been implicated as an emerging new growth marker during childhood. it has been reported that besides its well-studied role in growth,plasma cnp levels are reduced in overweight and/or obese adolescents,suggesting cnp as a potential biomarker in childhood obesity. the primary goal of this study was to test this hypothesis in a turkish population. methods: consent was taken from 317 children [ages 0-18 (158 girls,159 boys)] and their parents. all subjects were physically examined; anthropometric measurements were obtained. body mass index was calculated. during routine blood work,1 ml extra blood was taken. plasma nt-procnp concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. results: results confirmed the previously described relationship between plasma nt-procnp concentration and growth velocity. plasma nt-procnp concentration showed a negative correlation with age,weight,and height in children. gender was not a factor that alters the age-dependent plasma nt-procnp concentration until puberty. conclusion: unlike previous reports,plasma nt-procnp concentration of overweight/obese children was not significantly lower than that of children with normal weight in age groups analyzed in a turkish population. thus,it is too early to conclude that cnp is a potential biomarker in childhood obesity. further studies are necessary to address this question. © 2017 by turkish pediatric endocrinology and diabetes society.