B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Is Related to Left Ventricular Mass in Hypertensive Patients but Not in Athletes

Abstract

A positive correlation has been previously documented between B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in hypertensive patients. We evaluated 8 cycling athletes, 8 healthy age-matched controls; 17 hypertensive patients and 7 age-matched controls. LVMI was significantly higher in athletes and hypertensive patients than in their controls. Plasma levels of BNP in hypertensive patients were significantly higher than in athletes and their age-matched controls. No significant difference was found between athletes and their controls. Cycling athletes had significantly larger LVMI than hypertensive patients and controls, without elevated BNP levels. These results suggest that BNP levels are elevated in patients with increased LVM due to hypertension but not in physiologically increased LVM. Whether elevated BNP levels in athletes is a sign of structural heart disease merits further investigation.

Utility of Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Measurement in Cardiovascular Disease

“…58 Ventricular enlargement with elite training does not appear to increase BNP. 59 Other physiological factors that affect ANP, such as posture, 60 do not alter BNP. This further supports the preference for BNP as a diagnostic marker.…”

N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide reflects cardiac remodelling in stage 1 hypertension

“…This finding is supported by population-based studies, where subjects with LVH or left ventricular systolic dysfunction have been shown to have increased levels of NP, but NP have not been reported to correlate with BP or LVM. 8,9,24 Furthermore, plasma BNP levels are not increased in cyclists with significant LVH, 25 and we have shown that most of the patients with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy attributable to the Asp175Asn mutation in the a-tropomyosin gene and marked LVH have normal plasma NT-proBNP levels. 26 Although LA size is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, 27,28 the mechanism of the LA enlargement remains poorly elucidated.…”

“…The within-and between-assay coefficients of variation in each assay were o10 and o15%, respectively. The NT-proANP antiserum was raised against recombinant human proANP 1-98 and the NT-proBNP antiserum against synthetic proBNP [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] …”

Evidence for Natriuretic Peptides a and B as Non-Invasive Markers in Congenital and Valvular Heart Disease

“…The present results confirm the findings of other studies showing significantly elevated levels of natriuretic peptides in various types of congenital and valvular heart diseases [3][4][5] . Other studies have shown a relationship between concentrations of natriuretic peptides and severity of heart failure [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] . In agreement with previous publications [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] , the levels of both natriuretic peptides increased with severity of the heart impairment.…”

“…Other studies have shown a relationship between concentrations of natriuretic peptides and severity of heart failure [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] . In agreement with previous publications [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] , the levels of both natriuretic peptides increased with severity of the heart impairment. The highly significant relationship to age and gender for both natriuretic peptides found, accords with other studies [13][14][15][16][17][18] .…”