In addition, treatment with erythropoietin lessens carotid artery intima-media thickness and reduces brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, as well as lowering plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide and serum levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine, both of which have been reported to be associated with cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and chronic kidney disease, and are strong predictors of cardiovascular disease and progression of chronic kidney disease [27]. This evidence concerns the gene NPPB and chronic kidney disease.