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Atrial natriuretic factor in essential hypertension: echocardiographic and humoral correlates
A R Lucarini1, S Favilla, C Marini
1Clinica Medica I, University of Pisa, Italy.
Insights
Plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) levels are similar in patients with essential hypertension and healthy individuals. Left ventricular hypertrophy does not significantly impact ANF release in mild to moderate essential hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Essential hypertension (EH) is a complex condition with various contributing factors.
- Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) plays a role in cardiovascular and renal regulation.
- Understanding ANF's role in EH is crucial for managing the condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plasma ANF concentrations and echocardiographic and humoral variables in patients with essential hypertension.
- To determine if left ventricular mass or atrial dimensions correlate with ANF levels in EH.
- To assess the influence of plasma renin and aldosterone on ANF in EH.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 32 patients with mild to moderate uncomplicated essential hypertension and 10 healthy controls.
- Measurements included plasma ANF, two-dimensional echocardiography (left ventricular mass, left atrium diameter), and plasma renin and aldosterone.
- Patients were studied after 7 days of controlled sodium intake and were off therapy for at least 3 weeks.
Main Results:
- Plasma ANF values showed no significant difference between EH patients and controls.
- No significant correlations were found between ANF levels and left ventricular mass, left atrial diameter, mean arterial blood pressure, plasma renin activity, or aldosterone in EH patients.
- ANF levels were similar in EH patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy.
Conclusions:
- Plasma ANF levels are substantially similar in mild to moderate uncomplicated essential hypertension and control groups.
- Left ventricular hypertrophy is not a significant independent stimulus for ANF release in essential hypertension.
- Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the role of ANF in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension.
Abstract:
Aim of this study was to assess the relationship between plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and its two-dimensional echocardiographic (left ventricular mass, left atrium diameter) and humoral (plasma renin and aldosterone) variables in essential hypertension (EH). We evaluated 32 patients with uncomplicated mild to moderate EH and 10 controls. They were studied in the supine position after 7 days of constant dietary sodium intake and were off therapy since at least 3 weeks. ANF values overlapped between EH patients and controls (27.8 +/- 11.5 vs. 19.5 +/- 7.4 pg/ml, p = NS). In EH, no significant correlation was found between ANF values and left ventricular mass (r = 0.29), left atrial diameter (r = 0.04), mean arterial blood pressure (r = 0.26), plasma renin activity (r = 0.00), and aldosterone (r = 0.26). In EH, ANF values overlapped between the 15 patients with hypertrophy and the 17 patients with normal ventricular mass: 30.3 +/- 17 vs. 25.6 +/- 10.6 pg/ms (p = NS). We conclude that there is a substantial overlap in plasma ANF values between mild to moderate uncomplicated EH and controls, and left ventricular hypertrophy is not a major independent stimulus to ANF release in EH.