title: Therapeutic actions of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide in 16 clinical cases.
abstract: Alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha-hANP) was applied to 16 clinical patients, 6 patients with essential hypertension, 7 patients with congestive heart failure and 3 patients with cirrhosis. Following intravenous bolus injection of 400 micrograms of synthetic alpha-hANP, a hypotensive effect of very rapid onset was found, which was more potent in the hypertensive patients than in the normotensive cases. Cardiac functions were improved significantly with a similar time course as the depressor response in the cases of heart failure or hypertension. Hemodynamic observations showed a marked increase in cardiac output, cardiac index, stroke volume, ejection fraction and ejection rate, and a concomitant decrease of the pressure in the right side of the heart and pulmonary circulation in these subjects. In addition, the renal response to alpha-hANP induced obvious increases in urine volume, electrolytes and creatinine excretions in all the subjects. Finally, plasma levels of aldosterone, Arg-vasopressin and noradrenaline were also altered by alpha-hANP. No significant side effects were registered. The above result confirms the therapeutic actions of alpha-hANP in human subjects and opens the possibility to research alpha-hANP as a powerful pharmacological tool as well as potential new medicine for human disorders.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D012964:Sodium