Premium
Variability of Nt‐proANP and C‐ANP
Author(s) -
McDowell G.,
Patterson C.,
Maguire S.,
Shaw C.,
Nicholls D. P.,
Hall C.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2362.2002.01031.x
Subject(s) - atrial natriuretic peptide , medicine , radioimmunoassay , endocrinology , natriuretic peptide , mann–whitney u test , coefficient of variation , cardiology , heart failure , chemistry , chromatography
Background Natriuretic peptides are frequently measured in patients with chronic cardiac failure (CCF). We set out to compare the variability of atrial natriuretic peptide (C‐ANP) and its precursor N‐terminal pro‐ANP (Nt‐proANP) to decide which would be more suitable for routine use. Methods Ten males with compensated CCF (age range 62–76 years) were studied, with matched controls. Blood was withdrawn every 2 min for 90 min from a forearm vein, and plasma C‐ANP and Nt‐proANP were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results Levels were elevated in the patient group [C‐ANP: median 268 (range 171–423) vs. 40 (28–56) ng L −1 , P < 0·0002 Mann–Whitney U‐test; Nt‐proANP: 1955 (562–4451) vs. 621 (409–961) pmol L −1 , P < 0·003]. A similar number of ‘peaks’ was observed in both groups with both peptides, about one every 10 min, and their relative height was similar in both groups. Variability was greater for C‐ANP than for Nt‐proANP in both patients [coefficient of variation of means 51 (range 36–70) vs. 3·6 (2·1–6·2)%, P < 0·01; sign test] and controls [65 (49–83) vs. 8·9 (4·7–13·5)%, P < 0·01]. Conclusion Nt‐proANP is less variable than C‐ANP and hence more suited for diagnostic or prognostic use.