title: Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels in patients with heart failure.
abstract: 1. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of captopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, on plasma levels of human brain natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity (hBNP-li) in patients with congestive heart failure. 2. Six male patients (aged 52-74 years) with mild to moderate congestive heart failure were studied on two occasions in the semi-recumbent position. After a 30 min rest, patients were randomized to receive oral tablets of either captopril (6.25 mg followed by 25 mg 2 h later) or placebo in a single-blind manner. Plasma hBNP-li, atrial natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity (ANP-li) and angiotensin II-like immunoreactivity (ANG II-li) levels and blood pressure were measured. 3. Baseline plasma hBNP-li and ANP-li levels in these patients with mild to moderate congestive heart failure were 13.5 +/- 3.2 pmol/l and 50.9 +/- 11.8 pmol/l, respectively. In 11 healthy male subjects aged 20-23 years, the peripheral plasma hBNP-li and ANP-li levels were 1.3 +/- 0.2 pmol/l and 5.6 +/- 1.7 pmol/l, respectively. In all patients, captopril decreased the plasma ANG II-li level (from 24.3 +/- 8.1 to 6.6 +/- 3.2 pmol/l, P < 0.05) and mean arterial blood pressure (from 92 +/- 3 to 80 +/- 3 mmHg, P < 0.05). Compared with placebo, captopril treatment was associated with significant reductions in plasma hBNP-li (from 14.3 +/- 3.0 to 12.8 +/- 2.1 pmol/l, P < 0.05) and in plasma ANP-li (from 53.9 +/- 1.11 to 36.8 +/- 7.6 pmol/l, P < 0.05) levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, U.K.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Motwani
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Coutie
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Struthers
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000804:Angiotensin II; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D002216:Captopril