Atrial natriuretic peptide in congestive heart failure: postural changes and reset with chronic captopril therapy

The response of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) to standing and the acute and chronic administration of the vasodilator, captopril, were examined in 15 patients with chronic congestive heart failure. In the supine position, ANP was increased (361 +/- 202 pg/ml); however, only a loose correlation existed between atrial pressures and ANP (right atrial vs ANP, r = 0.03, p = N.S., and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures vs ANP, r = 0.4, p = N.S.). Standing and acute captopril therapy decreased atrial pressures and ANP but did not significantly improve the correlation between atrial pressures and ANP. With chronic captopril therapy, atrial pressures remained decreased; however, ANP had returned to control values (370 +/- 254 pg/ml vs 361 +/- 202 pg/ml) and failed to decrease with standing (370 +/- 259 pg/ml lying vs 351 +/- 194 pg/ml standing). These changes in ANP (with chronic captopril therapy) persisted even once the hemodynamic effects of captopril had dissipated (3 hours post dose). This study indicates that in patients with severe chronic congestive heart failure (1) only a poor correlation exists between ANP and atrial pressures and (2) with chronic captopril therapy ANP increases to higher levels for a given atrial pressure and fails to decrease with standing despite a decrease in atrial pressures.