Effect of Neprilysin Inhibition on Various Natriuretic Peptide Assays

With sacubitril/valsartan treatment, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations increase; it remains unclear whether change in BNP concentrations is similar across all assays for its measurement. Effects of sacubitril/valsartan on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations in patients are unknown. Lastly, the impact of neprilysin inhibition on mid-regional pro-ANP (MR-proANP), N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP), proBNP_1-108, or C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is not well understood.

This study sought to examine the effects of sacubitril/valsartan on results from different natriuretic peptide assays.

Twenty-three consecutive stable patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction were initiated and titrated on sacubitril/valsartan. Change in ANP, MR-proANP, BNP (using 5 assays), NT-proBNP (3 assays), proBNP_1-108, and CNP were measured over 3 visits.

Average time to 3 follow-up visits was 22, 46, and 84 days. ANP rapidly and substantially increased with initiation and titration of sacubitril/valsartan, more than doubling by the first follow-up visit (+105.8%). Magnitude of ANP increase was greatest in those with concentrations above the median at baseline (+188%) compared with those with lower baseline concentrations (+44%); ANP increases were sustained. Treatment with sacubitril/valsartan led to inconsistent changes in BNP, which varied across methods assessed. Concentrations of MR-proANP, NT-proBNP, and proBNP_1-108 variably declined after treatment; whereas CNP concentrations showed no consistent change.

Initiation and titration of sacubitril/valsartan led to variable changes in concentrations of multiple natriuretic peptides. These results provide important insights into the effects of sacubitril/valsartan treatment on individual patient results, and further suggest the benefit of neprilysin inhibition may be partially mediated by increased ANP concentrations.