title: Levels of brain natriuretic peptide are associated with peripheral arterial disease in subjects with type-2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) on the risk of cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis have been studied. However, little information is available regarding peripheral arterial disease (PAD), particularly among subjects with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of our study was to assess the potential relationship between BNP levels and PAD among T2DM patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study cohort was 507 T2DM outpatients in which BNP levels were measured. Cross-sectional associations between BNP levels (in tertiles) and PAD were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared withT2DM patients without PAD, BNP levels were markedly higher in patients with PAD (p = 0.001). Correlation analyses showed that the BNP level was negatively correlated with the ankle-brachial index (r = -0.453, p = 0.033). At a cutoff value of 78.2 pg/ml, the BNP level showed a sensitivity of 71.9%, a specificity of 68.1%, and a positive predictive value of 84.3% for a diagnosis of PAD. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve increased significantly if BNP levels were incorporated into a predictive model of the potential risk factors for PAD (0.85 vs 0.81, p = 0.029).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BNP is a potential and promising biomarker for PAD screening in T2DM patients.
authors.forename: Qi-Hui
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Wan-Lan
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Huai-Hong
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Tian-Lang
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 JieFang Rd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China. hanchunmao1@126.com.
authors.forename: Chun-Mao
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Han