[Surgical stress induces the secretion of alpha human atrial natriuretic peptide]

The changes in plasma alpha-hANP level and the factors affecting its secretion were studied in 35 patients treated by surgery for gastrointestinal disease (laparotomy group, 17) and (non-laparotomy group, 18). They did not have any particular complication during the study period. alpha-hANP, catecholamine (CA), antidiuretic hormone (ADH), aldosterone and plasma renin activity (PRA) were determined serially before and after the surgery. Plasma alpha-hANP level elevated on the post-operative day 1 and dropped to the upper limit of the normal range by the day 3, then gradually recovered to the level of before surgery. This early elevation of alpha-hANP was more marked in the laparotomy group than in the non-laparotomy group. These change in alpha-hANP level correlated well to those of CA, but not to those of ADH, aldosterone, and PRA. Age, sex, duration of surgery, bleeding and infusion volume during surgery did not affect the difference in alpha-hANP secretion between the two groups. In conclusion, the early elevation of plasma alpha-hANP level was correlated well to the surgical stress, and that this alpha-hANP secretion might be induced by CA secretion.