The Role of Adiponectin and Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Predicting Cardiovascular Events

Adiponectin and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are hormones produced by adipocytes and myocardial cells respectively, and have emerged as important diagnostic and prognostic tools in cardiovascular disease. Levels of adiponectin are down-regulated in obese and diabetic individuals and this hormone exhibits favorable effects on atherogenesis, endothelial function and vascular remodeling. On the other hand, BNP and the fragment N – terminal proBNP (NT – proBNP) are natriuretic peptides released from the heart in response to pressure and volume overload and have become diagnostic tools and predictors in several cardiac abnormalities, beyond heart failure. This brief review will discuss the prognostic significance of these two hormones and epidemiological and clinical data from studies will be presented