Neuropeptide Y, left ventricular mass and function in patients with end stage renal disease

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is released during sympathetic stimulation and mediates the central effects of the adipostatic hormone leptin. The plasma concentration of NPY and leptin is increased in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), but it is unknown whether these substances are related to biochemical markers of sympathetic activity and to alterations in left ventricular (LV) mass and function in these patients.

We investigated the relationship between NPY, norepinephrine (NE), leptin and echocardiographic measurements in a cross-sectional study in 198 patients with ESRD.

NPY was directly related to plasma NE and heart rate but it was largely independent of arterial pressure and of retention of metabolic waste products. NPY was significantly higher in patients with LV hypertrophy and in those with LV systolic dysfunction than in those without these alterations. Of note, NPY emerged as an independent correlate of LV mass index and of LV ejection fraction (LVEF) (both P

Elevated NPY is independently associated with LV concentric hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction in ESRD. It remains to be seen whether these links contribute to the high cardiovascular mortality in these patients.