B-type natriuretic peptide, a marker of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients

Aim. - To evaluate BNP in assessing LV functions in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients. Methods. - BNP was measured in 91 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. According to Doppler echocardiography, patients were first separated into three categories: normal LV function, or isolated diastolic or systolic LV dysfunction. As some patients with diastolic dysfunction were treated for hypertension, the population was divided into four groups: groups 1,2 and 3 all had no antihypertensive treatment, and had normal LV function, and isolated diastolic and systolic LV dysfunction, respectively; and group 4 were being treated with antihypertensive drugs and had diastolic LV dysfunction. Results. - In group 1, BNP levels (13 +/- 2 ng/L) were lower than in group2 (87 +/- 20 ng/L, P < 0.0001) or group 3 (213 +/- 32 ng/L, P < 0.0001), but were similar to those of group 4 (32 +/- 6 ng/L, P=0.14). ROC analysis revealed a rule-out value of 23 ng/L for group 1 versus group 2, and of 239 ng/L for group 2 versus group 3. In groups 1,2 and 3 taken together, BNP levels wer correlated with urinary albumin excretion rate (r=0.80, P < 0.0001) and pulse pressure (r=0.65, P < 0.001). In group 4, patients receiving ACE inhibitors had lower BNP levels than those receiving beta-blockers. Conclusion. - BNP can be used to pre-screen asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients with LV dysfunction, and may reveal vascular remodelling in type 2 diabetes mellitus. (c) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved