Mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and blood pressure in adolescents: Effect of gender and pubertal stage

Abstract

Little is known about blood pressure in relation to circulating natriuretic peptide concentrations and gender in generally healthy adolescents. We studied 15-year-old females and males (n = 335) from the Danish site of the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS). Blood pressure was measured using a standardized protocol, sexual maturity was assessed according to Tanner stage, and as a surrogate for atrial natriuretic peptide, we measured mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) in plasma. Compared with boys, girls had lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mean ± SD: 109.6 ± 9.9 mmHg vs 116.9 ± 11.4 mmHg, p < 0.0001) and higher plasma MR-proANP concentrations [median (interquartile range): 42.1 pmol/l (31.9-50.2 pmol/l) vs 36.6 pmol/l (30.6-44.9 pmol/l), p = 0.0046]. When female adolescents were further subdivided according to Tanner stage, there were no differences in blood pressure and plasma MR-proANP concentrations between post-pubertal and pubertal girls (p > 0.17). In contrast, after similar subdivision, post-pubertal boys had higher SBP (mean ± SD: 117.7 ± 11.7 mmHg vs 111.4 ± 7.9 mmHg, p = 0.029) and lower plasma MR-proANP concentrations [median (interquartile range): 36.2 pmol/l (30.6-43.1 pmol/l) vs 46.4 pmol/l (30.3-51.1 pmol/l), p = 0.043] compared with pubertal boys. Given their higher SBP, boys had lower than expected plasma concentrations of MR-proANP compared with girls, and given their higher SBP, post-pubertal boys had lower than expected plasma concentrations of MR-proANP compared with pubertal boys.

Association of copeptin, a surrogate marker for arginine vasopressin secretion, with insulin resistance: Influence of adolescence and psychological stress

“…WC was measured midway between the lower rib margin and the iliac crest at the end of gentle expiration. Pubertal status was assessed according to Tanner stages, as described elsewhere [25]. Maturity stage among the adolescents was almost exclusively stage 3, 4 and 5, thus, we collapsed maturity into a 3point ordinal variable (Tanner stages 2-3, Tanner stage 4 and Tanner stage 5).…”

“…Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were measured with the participants in the sitting position after resting for five minutes, using a Dinamap monitor (Dinamap model XL-Kivex/Critikron, Tampa, FL, US), which has previously been validated in children and adolescents against direct radial artery readings, as described elsewhere [25]. Five measurements were done with two-minute intervals, and the mean of the last three measurements was used.…”

Natriuretic peptides in the control of lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity

“…Modulation by sex steroids may result in sex-dependent regulation of NP levels (60)(61)(62). An effect of sex hormones during adolescence was already observed in pubertal versus post-pubertal adolescents, where NP concentrations are lower in post-pubertal boys compared with those in pubertal boys (63). Oestrogens might have a stimulatory effect on the production and secretion of ANP and BNP by the cardiomyocyte, whereas androgens may have an inhibitory effect (61).…”

Associations of Proatrial Natriuretic Peptide with Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents and Young Adults from the General Population

“…11 A detailed description of the EYHS protocol has been reported elsewhere. 10 In 2009-2010, random samples of 709 [14][15][16] year-old healthy adolescents, 469 20-22 year-old healthy adults and 658 26-28 year-old healthy adults were invited to take part in the Danish part of the study. The participation rate was 59% (n=399) for the adolescents and 46% (n=650) for the young adults.…”

“…Pubertal status was assessed according to Tanner, 14 as described elsewhere. 15 Maturity stage among the adolescents was almost exclusively stage 3, 4 and 5, thus, we collapsed maturity to a 3-point ordinal variable (Tanner 2-3, Tanner 4 and Tanner 5).…”