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C‐type natriuretic peptide plasma levels increase in patients with chronic heart failure as a function of clinical severity
Author(s) -
Del Ry Silvia,
Passino Claudio,
Maltinti Maristella,
Emdin Michele,
Giannessi Daniela
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1016/j.ejheart.2004.12.009
Subject(s) - medicine , heart failure , natriuretic peptide , cardiology , plasma levels , brain natriuretic peptide
Backgound: C‐type natriuretic peptide (CNP), secreted by the endothelium and the heart, is structurally related to atrial and brain natriuretic peptides, but its clinical significance in chronic heart failure (CHF) is controversial. Aim: To investigate the role of CNP in CHF, plasma CNP levels were determined in a prospective series of 133 patients with CHF (age 64±1 years, left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), 31.5±0.7%, mean±S.E.M.) and in 21 age‐matched healthy subjects. Methods and results: CNP was measured by a radioimmunoassay (sensitivity: 0.41±0.009 pg/tube) after a preliminary solid‐phase extraction. Plasma level of CNP in healthy subjects was 2.7±0.2 pg/ml and significantly increased in CHF, as a function of clinical severity: 4.9±0.7 pg/ml in NYHA class I; 7.0±0.4 pg/ml in class II ( p <0.001 vs. controls); 9.6±0.7 pg/ml in class III ( p <0.001 vs. controls and class I and II), and 11.8±2.0 pg/ml in class IV ( p <0.001 vs. controls, class I and II; Fisher's test after ANOVA). A significant relation was also found between CNP plasma levels and EF ( R =0.40, p <0.001). Conclusion: Plasma CNP elevation is related to clinical and functional disease severity. These findings suggest a pathophysiological role for this peptide that, for its vasorelaxing activity, could influence the endothelial vasomotor response in CHF.