Relation of CAVI (Cardio ankle vascular index) and NT-proBNP in diabetic retinopathy

Vascular lesions accompanying diabetes mellitus are closely related to atherosclerosis onset and progression, so we studied the relationship between the cardioankle vascular index (CAVI) and of NT-proBNP and metabolic syndrome and of atherosclerosis risk markers. We divided the diabetic retinopathy of 69 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus into three groups normal (N), simple retinopathy (S), and proliferative retinopathy (P). The CAVI, a stiffness index, and NT-proBNP, a cardiac function index, increased as retinopathy progressed and NT-proBNP correlated significantly with R-CAVI (r = 0.401, p = 0.0006) and L-CAVI (r = 0.450. p<0.0001). Our results suggest that the increase in CAVI and NT-proBNP in subjects with diabetic retinopathy is a useful index of atherosclerosis progression and cardiovascular function.