title: Brain natriuretic peptides in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and effects of renal angioplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We hypothesized that plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) would be elevated, and adiponectin concentrations reduced, in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) and that BNPs might be used to identify patients who would benefit from percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected before renal angiography in 91 patients with hypertension and suspected ARAS (significant ARAS; n=47, and non-RAS; n=44) and in 20 healthy controls (C). In ARAS patients analyses were repeated four weeks after PTRA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ambulatory systolic blood pressure (ASBP) was significantly elevated in the ARAS group vs. both C and non-RAS groups. Baseline plasma BNP and NT-proBNP levels were significantly elevated, and adiponectin concentrations reduced, in the ARAS group vs. C but not vs. the non-RAS group. One month after PTRA, ASBP was reduced vs. baseline (149±16 to 139±15 mm p<0.01). Brain natriuretic peptides were not significantly affected by PTRA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with ARAS showed elevated of BNP and NT-proBNP concentrations, and reduced levels of adiponectin, compared to healthy controls but not vs. hypertensive individuals without RAS. Our data do no support the use of BNP analyses in the identification of ARAS patients who will have a beneficial blood pressure response to PTRA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Nephrology, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nowakowska-Fortuna
authors.forename: Aso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guron
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hammarsten
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herlitz
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D011859:Radiography; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain