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. 2013;8(3):e58506.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058506. Epub 2013 Mar 13.

NT-proBNP, C-reactive protein and soluble uPAR in a bi-ethnic male population: the SAfrEIC study

Ruan Kruger  1 , Rudolph Schutte, Hugo W Huisman, Peter Hindersson, Michael H Olsen, Jesper Eugen-Olsen, Aletta E Schutte
Affiliations

NT-proBNP, C-reactive protein and soluble uPAR in a bi-ethnic male population: the SAfrEIC study

Ruan Kruger et al. PLoS One. 2013.

Abstract

Objective and design: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate associations between a marker of cardiac strain, the N-terminal prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and inflammation as reflected by either a conventional or novel inflammatory marker in a bi-ethnic South African cohort.

Methods and subjects: We measured NT-proBNP, C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasma-soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels along with conventional biomarkers in black (n = 117) and white (n = 116) men.

Results: NT-proBNP, CRP and suPAR levels were higher in black compared to white men. NT-proBNP was significantly associated with both CRP (r = 0.38; p = 0.001) and suPAR (r = 0.42; p<0.001) in black men only. After full adjustment in multiple regression analyses, the above associations of NT-proBNP with CRP (β = 0.199; p = 0.018) and suPAR (β = 0.257; p<0.01) were confirmed in black men.

Conclusion: These results suggest that a low-grade inflammatory state as reflected by both a conventional and novel marker of inflammation may contribute to higher cardiovascular risk as reflected by the associations obtained with a marker of cardiac strain in black South African men.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Single regression analyses of NT-proBNP with markers of inflammation in black and white men.
Figure 2
Figure 2. NT-proBNP levels by quartiles of CRP and suPAR, adjusted for systolic blood pressure and arterial compliance.
Probability denoted significance for trend; †p<0.01 (Q1 vs. Q4).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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