Plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels in normotensive noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients with microalbuminuria

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a member of the natriuretic peptide family, is produced and released from cardiac ventricles. BNP regulates the body fluid volume, blood pressure, and vascular tones through the A-type guanylate cyclase-coupled receptor. The presence of renal dysfunction in patients with diabetes affects the plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). In the present study, we investigated the plasma levels of BNP and ANP and their relationship in normotensive diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria and microalbuminuria. Forty-seven normotensive lean noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients (31 with normoalbuminuria, 16 with microalbuminuria), with normal cardiac function, and 30 age-matched control subjects were enrolled in this study. The plasma levels of BNP in diabetic patients with microalbuminuria were significantly higher than those in diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria (16.7 +/- 2.4 vs. 9.6 +/- 1.3 pg/mL, P < 0.01) or normal subjects (16.7 +/- 2.4 vs. 7.0 +/- 0.6 pg/mL, P < 0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between plasma BNP levels and urinary albumin excretion rate in all diabetic patients (r = 0.58, P < 0.0001). There was also a significantly positive correlation between plasma BNP and ANP levels in diabetic patients (r = 0.62, P < 0.0001). The increased plasma level of BNP in patients with microalbuminuria and its significant correlation with urinary albumin excretion rate suggest that the elevated circulating levels of BNP are caused by the presence of diabetic nephropathy. Down-regulation of A-type guanylate cyclase-coupled receptor of renal tubules may explain the increased plasma levels of both BNP and ANP in normotensive diabetic patients with microalbuminuria.