title: Gender dimorphic associations between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, body mass index and blood pressure in children and adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity and hypertension are often comorbid, but the pathophysiologic mechanisms that link them are not fully understood. Natriuretic peptides might play a role in this association. The majority of studies show lower brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations as well as lower concentrations of the N-terminal of the prohormone (NT-proBNP) in obese than normal body mass index (BMI) adults and higher BNP concentrations in hypertensive than in normotensive individuals. In children, there are no studies examining the relations between NT-proBNP, BMI and blood pressure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six children, 24 obese/25 normal BMI boys, and 23 obese/24 normal BMI girls, aged 10-16 years, were studied. Plasma NT-proBNP was measured using electrochemiluminescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In males, NT-proBNP concentrations were lower in the obese than the normal BMI group but higher in the obese hypertensive than the obese normotensive group (p = 0.04). In addition, a significant positive correlation was noted between plasma NT-proBNP and blood pressure (p = 0.03) only in obese males. In females, no correlations were detected between NT-proBNP, BMI and systolic or diastolic blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Longitudinal studies are needed to define the role of NT-proBNP as a screening biomarker in obese children, particularly males, to determine their risk for developing arterial hypertension.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pediatrics, Childhood Obesity Clinic, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. ppervanid @ med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pervanidou
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akalestos
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakka
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kanaka-Gantenbein
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papassotiriou
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chrousos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain