INTERRELATIONS BETWEEN SERUM N-TERMINAL PRO B-TYPE NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE (NT-PROBNP) LEVELS AND EARLY CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS IN OBESE ADOLESCENTS

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between the N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and the metabolic, echocardiographic parameters, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) in adolescent obesity. Material and Method: The study participants consisted of 138 obese adolescents in the study group and 63 non-obese adolescents as control subjects. All the subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiographic examination for determination of left ventricular (LV) systolic function and mass index, myocardial tissue rates, and myocardial performance index (MPI). Epicardial adipose tissue thickness and carotid IMT were also measured during echocardiography. Serum NT-proBNP levels were measured at the time of the evaluation. Results: The NT-proBNP values averaged 67.20 ± 64.40 pg/ml in mildly-moderately obese, 76.00 ± 49.70 pg/ml in the severely obese group and 44.30 ± 23.30 pg/ml in the control group (p = 0.007, p = 0.002, respectively). The average carotid IMT was 0.91 ± 0.23 and 0.88 ± 0.18 mm in the obesity groups and 0.52 ± 0.08 mm in the control group (p= 0.0001), but differences were not observed between obesity groups and the EATT which averaged 7.38 ± 1.76 and 7.42 ± 1.55 mm in the obesity groups and 4.28 ± 0.79 mm in the control group (p = 0.0001). The NT-proBNP levels showed statistically significant positive correlations with left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions, carotid IMT, or EATT values, especially in severe obesity. Conclusion: The study showed higher measurements of serum NT-proBNP levels in mildly-moderately and severely obese adolescents than control and NT-proBNP might be a useful marker for predicting atherosclerosis and cardiac dysfunction in the obese adolescent