title: Plasma natriuretic activity in oedematous states.
abstract: Accumulating evidence suggests that extracellular volume (ECV) may be governed in part by a natriuretic hormone. To study its possible role in oedema formation plasma fractions IV from patients with the nephrotic syndrome, with cirrhosis of the liver, and with idiopathic oedema were studied for their effects on frog skin Na-transport and on rat renal Na-excretion. Plasma fractions IV from ECV-expanded healthy subjects and patients with aldosteronoma significantly inhibited PD and SCC and in the rat increased urinary flow, CH29, and UNaV. Neither antinatriferic nor natriuretic activities were observed in patients with the nephrotic syndrome or liver cirrhosis. In patients with idiopathic oedema recurrent episodes of fluid retention up to 9 percent of b.wt. followed by spontaneous natriuresis were well correlated with antinatriferic plasma activity. The results suggest that ECV in healthy subjects may be governed in part by a natriuretic hormone which is absent in ECV-expansion due to oedema. However, this mechanism may operate appropriately, though at an elevated threshold, in patients with idiopathic oedema.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004487:Edema / Q000097:blood*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood; D009318:Natriuresis; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D010949:Plasma; D011896:Rana temporaria; D051381:Rats; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium