The association of plasma NT-proBNP level and progression of diabetic kidney disease

Aims Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The identification of risk factors involved in the progression of DKD to ESKD is expected to result in early detection and appropriate intervention and improve prognosis. This study aimed to explore whether plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was associated with kidney outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and biopsy-proven DKD. Methods Patients with biopsy-proven DKD who were followed up at West China Hospital over 12 months were enrolled. The kidney outcome was defined as progression to ESKD. The cutoff value of plasma NT-proBNP concentration was calculated by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The influence of NT-proBNP levels on kidney outcome in patients with DKD was assessed using Cox regression analysis. Results A total of 30 (24.5%) patients reached ESKD during a median follow-up of 24.1 months. The baseline serum NT-proBNP level had a significant correlation with baseline proteinuria, kidney function, glomerular lesions, interstitial fibrosis tubular atrophy (IFTA), and arteriolar hyalinosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that increased NT-proBNP level was significantly associated with a higher risk of progression to ESKD (HR 6.43; 95% CI (1.65-25.10, p = 0.007), and each 1 SD increase in LG (NT-proBNP) was also associated with a higher risk (HR 2.43; 95% CI 1.94-5.29, p = 0.047) of an adverse kidney outcome after adjusting for confounding factors. Conclusions A higher level of plasma NT-proBNP predicts kidney prognosis in patients with biopsy-proven DKD. This warrants further investigation into the potential mechanisms.