Sema Seçilmiş, Murat Duranay
The Journal of European Internal Medicine Professionals - 2025;3(4):142-149
Background: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a cardiac biomarker with emerging relevance in chronic kidney disease (CKD). While elevated NT-proBNP levels are commonly attributed to cardiac dysfunction, recent evidence suggests they may also reflect renal pathology and predict CKD progression. This single-center study aimed to evaluate the predictive role of NT-proBNP in CKD progression independent of structural heart disease. Methods: We enrolled 24 patients with stage 3-5 CKD, all with normal cardiac function confirmed by echocardiography (normal ejection fraction and left ventricular indices). Baseline NT-proBNP and comprehensive metabolic parameters (renal function, lipids, glycemic markers, inflammatory markers, nutritional indicators) were measured and repeated at 24 weeks. Changes in NT-proBNP were correlated with changes in renal function (creatinine clearance) and other variables. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. We also considered advanced analyses (ROC curve and multivariate regression) to further assess NT-proBNP's prognostic performance. Results: NT-proBNP levels rose significantly over 24 weeks (p<0.001) as renal function declined (creatinine clearance decreased, p<0.001). There was an inverse correlation between the change in NT-proBNP and the change in creatinine clearance (r = -0.437, p<0.05), even after excluding patients with heart failure or other cardiac abnormalities. Baseline NT- proBNP correlated negatively with serum albumin and total protein (r = -0.525 and -0.414, respectively), and these correlations persisted at follow-up (r = -0.577 and -0.483; p<0.01). Subgroup analysis showed the NT-proBNP-renal function relationship was more pronounced in diabetic CKD patients (r = -0.638, p<0.05) than in non-diabetics. NT-proBNP changes were not significantly associated with body mass index, blood pressure, lipid profile, or HbA1c. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels increased during follow-up; however, the change in hs-CRP did not correlate with the change in NT-proBNP. Conclusion: NT-proBNP levels increased in tandem with CKD progression, suggesting NT-proBNP is a promising marker for monitoring renal deterioration independent of heart function. Its strong association with nutritional status (albumin/protein levels) implies a multifactorial biomarker role. Larger prospective studies and advanced statistical analyses (e.g., threshold determination via ROC, multivariate models) are warranted to validate NT-proBNP's prognostic value and to integrate it into clinical decision-making for CKD..
