Objective: We recently showed that plasma concentration of N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide (Nt-proANP) is strongly directly related to salt sensitivity. The aims of the present study were to test (i) whether plasma concentration of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) is related to salt sensitivity and (ii) whether Nt-proANP, as a marker of salt sensitivity, differs between type 2 diabetes patients and nondiabetic subjects without a history of coronary heart disease.
Methods: Nt-proBNP was determined in 30 Swedish normal subjects with heredity for primary hypertension and salt sensitivity was defined as the difference between mean arterial blood pressure after 1 week on a high-salt diet (240 mmol day(-1)) and 1 week on a low-salt diet (10 mmol day(-1)). Nt-proANP was measured in 253 patients with type 2 diabetes and in 230 nondiabetic subjects aged 40-70 years, all without a history of coronary heart disease.
Results: Amongst the 30 subjects, in whom salt sensitivity was directly measured, Nt-proBNP was not correlated with salt sensitivity (R=-0.18, P=0.35). Nt-proANP (median, interquartile range) was lower in patients with type 2 diabetes (505, 387-661 pmol L(-1)) than in nondiabetic subjects (536, 421-696 pmol L(-1)) (P=0.02). In a multiple regression analysis heart rate (P <0.00001), diastolic blood pressure (P=0.02) and diabetes status (P=0.02) were inversely related whereas age (P <0.00001), cystatin C (P=0.0006), hypertension treatment (P=0.002) and female sex (P=0.006) were directly related to ln(Nt-proANP).
Conclusion: In contrast to Nt-proANP, Nt-proBNP is not related to salt sensitivity. Salt sensitivity, as estimated by Nt-proANP, seems to be reduced in type 2 diabetes.