Characterization of plasma brain natriuretic peptide level in patients with type 2 diabetes

This study investigates whether the plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level is increased by the clinical traits of diabetes, including its complications, and whether these levels are affected by the presence of other combined diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with diabetes. In 223 patients with Type 2 diabetes, the mean value of plasma BNP reached 32.3+/-4.1 pg/mL. The levels significantly increased with age, hypertension, and CHD but not with the duration of diabetes, HbA1c level, or hyperlipidemia. With regard to the type of therapy, the BNP levels were significantly lower in the combinations of both sulfonylurea and metformin and sulfonylurea and pioglitazone than those in insulin alone. In addition, the BNP levels in the group with diabetic complications, including retinopathy and nephropathy, and macroalbuminuria were significantly elevated in comparison with those without these complications and macroalbuminuria. Interestingly, however, no difference was observed between these groups after removal of the values in patients with CHD. These results have clarified that the plasma BNP levels in diabetic patients could increase only by the progression of macrovascular diseases, such as CHD, but not by the current diabetic control or diabetic microvascular complications.