Circulating Natriuretic Peptide Concentrations in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease: Role of Brain Natriuretic Peptide as a Biomarker for Ventricular Remodeling

To determine levels of natriuretic peptides (NPs) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and to examine the relationship of these cardiovascular pep-tides to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and to cardiac mortality. One hundred twelve dialysis patients without clinical evidence of congestive heart failure underwent plasma measurement of NP concentrations and echocardiographic investigation for left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations correlated positively with LVMI and inversely with left ventricular ejection fraction, whereas C-type NP and Dendroaspis NP levels did not correlate with LVMI. In dialysis patients with LVH (LVMI >125 g/m 2), plasma ANP and BNP concentrations were increased compared with those in dialysis patients without LVH (both P