Relation of left ventricular function, mass, and volume to NT-proBNP in type 1 diabetic patients

OBJECTIVES: To measure left ventricular mass (LVM), left ventricular volumes, and left ventricular function (LVF) in a cohort of type 1 diabetic patients and to correlate measures of imaging to NH(2)-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, all patients with type 1 diabetes underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. We included 63 patients with diabetic nephropathy and 73 patients with normoalbuminuria.

RESULTS: All patients had normal global LVF. LVM was increased in patients with diabetic nephropathy compared with patients with persistent normoalbuminuria. Patients with nephropathy had smaller left ventricular volumes and increased levels of NT-proBNP. Linear regression analysis in patients with diabetic nephropathy showed that NT-proBNP and creatinine were associated with LVM.

CONCLUSIONS: Increased LVM is identified in asymptomatic type 1 diabetic patients with nephropathy compared with normoalbuminuric patients. Elevated levels of NT-proBNP were associated with increased LVM, which are both markers of increased cardiovascular risk.