Japanese researchers have discovered that NT-proBNP, a biomarker used to detect heart failure, may also predict risk of progressive CKD as well as cardiac risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The study followed diabetic patients with stage 1 or stage 2 CKD for 5 years and found that those with a higher baseline of NT-proBNP were more likely to experience a new cardiac event and a 30% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration. The scientists need to conduct more research to confirm an optimal cutoff for levels of NT-proBNP. Because NT-proBNP is already used to test for cardiac risk, the researchers believe it could be an inexpensive and simple way to evaluate diabetic patients in hopes of preventing cardiovascular disease as well as progressive chronic kidney disease.
ADA: Cardiac Biomarker Good for Kidneys, Too, MedPage Today, June 14, 2012
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