N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide is associated with arterial stiffness measured using the cardio-ankle vascular index in renal transplant recipients

Aim: arterial stiffness is an established cardiovascular risk marker and an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality in various groups of patients,including renal transplant recipients. recent studies have noted that b-type natriuretic peptide (bnp) acts as a local paracrine molecule that modulates endothelial permeability and regeneration. the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the serum n-terminal pro-bnp (nt-pro-bnp) level and arterial stiffness in renal transplant recipients. methods: fasting blood samples were obtained from 66 renal transplant recipients. the cardio-ankle vascular index was calculated using the waveform device (cavi-vasera vs-1000). the serum ntpro-bnp levels were measured using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. a cavi value of ≥ 9 was used to define a high level of arterial stiffness. results: thirty-two patients (48.5%) were classified into the high arterial stiffness group. diabetes (p = 0.030),smoking (p<0.001),duration of kidney transplantation (p = 0.001),body weight (p = 0.014),waist circumference (p = 0.022),body mass index (p = 0.001) and the fasting glucose (p = 0.021) and serum nt-pro-bnp (p<0.001) levels were higher in the high arterial stiffness group than in the low arterial stiffness group. a multivariate forward stepwise linear regression analysis showed that the log-nt-pro-bnp level (β: 0.459,p<0.001) remained an independent predictor of the cavi value in the renal transplant recipients. conclusions: the serum fasting nt-pro-bnp level is associated with arterial stiffness in renal transplant recipients.