title: Plasma atrial natriuretic polypeptide in the elderly: age or hypertension?
abstract: The effect of age and raised blood pressure on the plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was examined in 20 young (23-49 years), 20 elderly normotensive (71-80 years) and 20 elderly hypertensive (71-82 years, BP > 160/90 mmHg) individuals. Median plasma ANP was 27.6 pg/ml (range, 16.8-94.0 pg/ml) in the young group; 62.0 pg/ml (range, 28.6-124.3 pg/ml) in the elderly normotensive and 74.4 pg/ml (range,25.2-423.6 pg/ml) in the elderly hypertensive group. Plasma ANP rose significantly with age, but there was no difference between elderly normotensive and hypertensive groups.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Geriatric Medicine, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Newport Road, Cardiff CF2 ISZ, UK.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lennox
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mulkerrin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Penney
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Woodhouse