Interrelationships between B-Type Natriuretic Peptides and Vitamin D in Patients on Maintenance Peritoneal Dialysis

Abstract

ObjectiveExperimental evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency impairs cardiac structure and function. Our objective was to observe relationships between circulating levels of the cardiac natriuretic peptides and vitamin D levels in patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis.MethodMeasurements were made of circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis.ResultsBoth BNP and the 1–76 amino-terminal fragment of pro-BNP correlated inversely with 25(OH)D levels ( rs= –0.60, p = 0.007, and rs= –0.64, p = 0.003, respectively) in patients on peritoneal dialysis.ConclusionsVitamin D deficiency in chronic renal failure may impair cardiac function, as manifested by elevated levels of B-type cardiac natriuretic peptides.