Abstract
To study the factors controlling the release of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), we analyzed the peripheral plasma ANF concentration in 34 patients with heart disease who underwent cardiac catheterization.
A significant positive correlation between plasma ANF concentration and pulmonary arterial pressure (systolic, r=0.87; diastolic, r=0.75; mean, r=0.85; each p<0.001) was found in all the patients examined. There were significant positive correlations between plasma ANF concentration and systolic right ventricular pressure (r=0.86, p<0.001), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r=0.50, p<0.01) and mean right atrial pressure (r=0.39, p<0.05). A weak but significant negative correlation was found between plasma ANF concentration and stroke volume index (r=-0.43, p<0.05). The correlation coefficient between plasma ANF concentration and mean pulmonary arterial pressure was significantly stronger than those between plasma ANF concentration and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and between plasma ANF concentration and mean right atrial pressure (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively).
In 10 patients with mitral valvular disease, significant correlations with plasma ANF concentration were also found for pulmonary arterial pressure (systolic, r=0.80; diastolic, r=0.82; mean, r=0.82; each p<0.01).
These findings suggest that pulmonary arterial pressure may play an important role in the mechanism of release of ANF from atrial cardiocytes.
