Abstract
Background/Aims. Natriuretic peptides are associated with the cardiovascular disease risk under a range of different circumstances. However, less is known about whether this association is found also in young healthy subjects. Methods. 9 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and 26 healthy young subjects were studied. The myocardial blood flow measurements were performed basally and during adenosine infusion using PET. Results. S-proBNP concentrations were significantly higher (2153 ± 1964 versus 28 ± 17 ng/L, P = .000002) and adenosine-stimulated flow lower (1.6 ± 0.8 versus 3.6 ± 1.1 mL·g−1·min−1, P = .00001) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy when compared to healthy subjects. S-proBNP concentration was inversely associated with adenosine stimulated flow in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (r = −0.75, P = .019) but not in healthy subjects (r = −0.06, P = .84). Conclusions. Natriuretic peptides are inversely associated with coronary vasoreactivity in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy but not in healthy young subjects. Since reduced coronary vasoreactivity seems to be one of the earliest abnormalities in the development of coronary artery disease, this might indicate that natriuretic peptides are not predictor of cardiovascular disease risk in healthy young subjects.
Highlights
Natriuretic peptides are released in response to increased ventricular wall stress [1] and myocardial ischemia [2]
S-proBNP concentration was inversely associated with adenosine stimulated flow in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (r = −0.75, P = .019) but not in healthy subjects (r = −0.06, P = .84)
Serum proBNP concentrations were significantly higher in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy when compared to healthy subjects (2153 ± 1964 versus 28 ± 17 ng/L, P = .000002)
Summary
Natriuretic peptides are released in response to increased ventricular wall stress [1] and myocardial ischemia [2]. Less is known whether this association is found in healthy young subjects. High costs and limited availability prevent the wider use of the method, PET enables noninvasive, quantitative, and accurate measurements of myocardial blood flow in humans [5]. Using PET, coronary vasoreactivity has been found to be reduced in patients with coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemias, and it appears to correlate with the risk factors of coronary artery disease even in healthy young subjects [6]. The present PET study was designed to evaluate whether natriuretic peptides are associated with coronary vasoreactivity in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and in healthy young subjects. Myocardial blood flow was determined basally and during adenosine infusion using PET and oxygen-15-labelled water ([15O]H2O)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
