Pathophysiological role of changing atrial size and pressure in modulation of atrial natriuretic factor during evolving experimental heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to study the interactions between pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (an estimate of left atrial pressure), left atrial dimension, and atrial natriuretic factor during evolving heart failure.


METHODS
Sequential simultaneous measurements of haemodynamic variables, left atrial dimension, and plasma atrial natriuretic factor concentrations were obtained during evolving experimental pacing induced heart failure.


METHODS
Eight male mongrel dogs were paced (250 beats.min-1) to severe heart failure over 4.9(SD 1.8) weeks.


RESULTS
The development of heart failure was characterised by a progressive increase in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and left atrial cross sectional area, from 5.6(1.3) mm Hg and 7.9(1.2) cm2 respectively at control, to 25.3(4.9) mm Hg and 14.2(2.5) cm2 respectively (both p less than 0.01) at severe heart failure. In contrast to the progressive increase in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and left atrial area, plasma atrial natriuretic factor concentration increased from 98(51) ng.litre-1 at control to a peak of 422(110) ng.litre-1 (p less than 0.01) at 1 week, then plateaued and reached 354(108) ng.litre-1 at severe heart failure (p less than 0.05 v control). Plasma atrial natriuretic factor correlated with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and left atrial area at 1 week (r = 0.73, r = 0.71 respectively, both p less than 0.01), but not at the time of severe heart failure.


CONCLUSIONS
The divergent time course of the changes in plasma atrial natriuretic factor concentration, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and left atrial dimension suggests that in this model, the release of atrial natriuretic factor becomes attenuated as severe heart failure develops.
Moe
G W
GW
Department of Medicine, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Angus
C
C
Howard
R J
RJ
De Bold
A J
AJ
Armstrong
P W
PW
D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D004285:Dogs; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure
D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor