title: [Natriuretic peptides and the heart. Critical review and application].
abstract: This paper deals with a literature survey on natriuretic peptides (NP) and their clinical use in prognostic stratification and therapy of arterial hypertension and cardiac failure. After a brief historical introduction, the phylogenesis of NP is analyzed and the reasons of their preservation in the evolution are emphasized. The biochemistry of the NP is then treated, and the structure, synthesis, mechanism of cellular action and systems of regulation are analyzed. Subsequently, the authors have analyzed the physiology of the NP as well as their hemodynamic and biohumoral effects and actions on the central nervous system. A literature review on the significance of NP in arterial hypertension, on their usefulness as indicators of damage and on their therapeutic practice is then made. In particular, the possible future applications in the prevention of atherosclerotic damage are analyzed. The significance of NP and of their metabolites in heart failure and the prognostic implication of these peptides particularly in ischemic heart failure are then discussed. The most important papers on this topic are described. Finally the studies on the use of NP in the therapy of heart failure are analyzed and a guide on research of this topic is defined.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Cardiologia, Ospedale SS. Annunziata, Savigliano, Cuneo.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baralis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antonielli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pizzuti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanga
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rovere
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doronzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bassignana
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Correndo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Leo
mesh_terms: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor
vernacular_title: Peptidi natriuretici e cuore. Revisione critica ed applicazioni.