The relationship between atrial natriuretic peptide and microvascular complications of diabetes

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between the atrial natriuretic peptide and microvascular complications of diabetes. Methods: Sixty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled into the study. Patients with a chronic disease other than diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study. The body-mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference were measured and blood samples for routine biochemical tests were taken after at least 12 hours fasting. The microvascular complications of the patients were evaluated. Results: Thirty-two of the patients had microvascular complications whereas 28 of them did not. Age, body mass index, waist and hip circumference, and atrial natriuretic peptide levels were significantly higher in the group with microvascular complications than those without complications. There was no significant difference in parameters like; waist-hip ratio, blood glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin, fasting HOMA, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and lipid levels between the two groups. When the relationship between atrial natriuretic peptide and obesity, retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, duration of diabetes, HbA1c, and sex are evaluated separately, the only significant parameters related to atrial natriuretic peptide were the body-mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference measurements, and neuropathy. Conclusions: Positive correlations between serum atrial natriuretic peptide levels and body-mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference measurements were determined. Also, serum atrial natriuretic peptide levels were significantly higher in patients with obesity or neuropathy than those without obesity or neuropathy.