Objective: Experimental evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency impairs cardiac structure and function. Our objective was to observe relationships between circulating levels of the cardiac natriuretic peptides and vitamin D levels in patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis.
Method: Measurements were made of circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in patients receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis.
Results: Both BNP and the 1-76 amino-terminal fragment of pro-BNP correlated inversely with 25(OH)D levels (rs = -0.60, p = 0.007, and rs = -0.64, p = 0.003, respectively) in patients on peritoneal dialysis.
Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency in chronic renal failure may impair cardiac function, as manifested by elevated levels of B-type cardiac natriuretic peptides.