Horm Metab Res 1999; 31(9): 487-498
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-978782
Review

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Pathophysiologic Relevance of Measuring the Plasma Levels of Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Hormones in Humans

A. Clerico1 , G. Iervasi1 , G. Mariani2
  • 1Laboratory of Cardiovascular Endocrinology, CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy
  • 2Nuclear Medicine Service, DIMI, University of Genoa Medical School, Genoa, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

1999

1999

Publication Date:
20 April 2007 (online)

Cardiac natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP, and biologically active peptides of the N-terminal proANP1-98) are differently regulated in their production/secretion patterns and clearance rates; consequently, the assay for these peptides may provide complementary (or even different) pathophysiological and/or clinical information. The assay for cardiac natriuretic peptides has been utilized in clinical conditions associated with expanded fluid volume. In particular, this assay can be useful in discriminating between normal subjects and patients in different stages of heart failure and can also be considered a prognostic indicator of long-term survival in patients with heart failure and/or after acute myocardial infarction. Non-competitive immunometric assays (such as two-site IRMAs), even if more expensive, seem to be preferable to RIAs for routinary assay of cardiac peptide hormones because they generally have a better degree of sensitivity, accuracy, and precision.

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