title: NT-proBNP is associated with fibulin-1 in Africans: the SAfrEIC study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The N-terminal prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is involved in the regulation of volume load and secreted when systemic cardiac overload occurs. Fibulin-1 on the other hand is a component of many extracellular matrix proteins including those present in atherosclerotic lesions, expressed in elastin-containing fibres of blood vessels, and also in the heart. Due to an alarming prevalence of hypertensive heart disease in black South Africans, we investigated the associations of NT-proBNP with fibulin-1 and markers of arterial stiffness in Africans and Caucasians.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 231 Africans and 238 Caucasians from South Africa aged 22-77 years. Serum NT-proBNP and fibulin-1 levels were determined, and arterial compliance and pulse wave velocity were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Africans had significantly higher blood pressure and NT-proBNP levels than Caucasians and African men had higher fibulin-1 levels than Caucasian men. In single regression analysis, NT-proBNP was significantly associated with fibulin-1 in African men and Caucasian women. NT-proBNP correlated negatively with arterial compliance in all groups except Caucasian women. After partial adjustments, the association between NT-proBNP and fibulin-1 strengthened in African men only. After full adjustment in multiple regression analysis, the association of NT-proBNP with fibulin-1 was confirmed in African men (R(2)=0.41; β=0.26; p<0.01) and also in younger women (R(2)=0.34; β=0.251; p=0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only Africans indicated a significant independent association between NT-proBNP and fibulin-1, suggesting that cardiovascular alterations are already present in this relatively young African population as opposed to Caucasians.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Ruan.Kruger@nwu.ac.za
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schutte
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Huisman
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Argraves
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Schutte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C060820:fibulin; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain