Strength of Relationships of the Pulse Wave Velocity and Central Hemodynamic Indices With the Serum N-Terminal Fragment B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Men

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It has not been fully clarified as to which marker related to arterial stiffness or central hemodynamics might be most closely associated with the blood natriuretic peptide levels. The present cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the strength of the relationships of the arterial stiffness and central hemodynamic indices with the serum N-terminal fragment B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) levels. In a total of 2,657 male employees of a company (46±9 years old), the first and second peaks of the radial systolic pressure waveform (SBP1 and SBP2, respectively), the radial augmentation index (rAI), the PP2 (SBP2 minus the diastolic blood pressure), the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and the serum NT-pro BNP levels were measured. Even after adjustments for confounding variables, the SBP1, SBP2, PP2, rAI and baPWV showed a significant positive association with the serum NT-pro BNP levels. A stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that among these variables, only PP2 contributed significantly to the serum NT-pro BNP levels (β=0.176, partial R-square=0.017, P<0.001). In middle-aged Japanese men, among the parameters related to arterial stiffness and central hemodynamics, PP2 showed the closest relationship with the serum NT-pro BNP levels. Therefore, elevation of the serum NT-pro BNP levels appears to reflect, at least in part, the pathophysiological abnormalities related to increased central pulse pressure.