Atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with acute myocardial infarction without functional heart failure

The purpose of the present study was to measure plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in patients with acute myocardial infarction without heart failure, and also to assess the temporal sequence of changes of plasma ANP during the first hours of recovery from myocardial infarction. The study was performed in 22 patients who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with the diagnosis of acute myocardial ischaemia that had an evolution of less than 6 h. Blood samples were drawn on admission and at 1, 8, and 24 h, and plasma concentrations of ANP, renin, aldosterone, epinephrine, norepinephrine and vasopressin were measured. Compared with control subjects, on admission patients showed increased plasma levels of ANP, as well as increased plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, and antidiuretic hormone (ADH). ANP, but not renin or aldosterone plasma values, decreased with time, and there was a significant correlation between ANP and time after onset of pain. No increase in plasma creatinine was observed during the hospital stay, and the patients showed a negative fluid balance. No relationship was found between the location or extension of the infarction, or morphine treatment and ANP plasma levels. The high levels of ANP seem to counteract the haemodynamic and fluid-retention effects of the vasoconstrictive factors released after myocardial infarction.