Daily profile of circulating C-type natriuretic peptide in pre-ascitic cirrhosis and in normal subjects: relationship with renal function.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) has a role in the regulation of fluid and sodium homeostasis in normal subjects and in pre-ascitic cirrhotic patients.


METHODS
The daily profile of CNP plasma levels was assessed by serial measurements (0700 h, 0900 h, 1800 h, 2300 h) in 10 pre-ascitic cirrhotic outpatients (age 56+/-4 years) and in 10 age-matched healthy controls (54+/-2 years) on a normal sodium diet (150 mmol/day) while carrying on their usual activities (mobile from 0700 h to 2200 h), after an equilibration period of 5 days. Daily diuresis and natriuresis were also monitored.


RESULTS
Mean daily CNP was comparable in cirrhotic and healthy subjects (3.64+/-0.32 versus 3.20+/-0.20 pg/ml; p=0.139); CNP concentration showed a tendency towards a circadian fluctuation in healthy subjects (p=0.053) but not in patients (p=0.171). Mean daily CNP concentration significantly correlated with 24-h natriuresis (r=0.709; p=0.022) and urine volume (r=0.745; p=0.013) in patients but not in healthy subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
CNP plasma levels appear to play a role in the water-sodium balance regulation in patients with pre-ascitic cirrhosis.
Zambruni
Andrea
A
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Cardioangiologia ed Epatologia, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Italy.
Trevisani
Franco
F
Gülberg
Veit
V
Caraceni
Paolo
P
Domenicali
Marco
M
Cantarini
Maria Chiara
MC
Cappa
Federica Mirici
FM
Di Micoli
Antonio
A
Magini
Giulia
G
Labate-Morselli
Antonio Maria
AM
Gerbes
Alexander L
AL
Bernardi
Mauro
M
D001201:Ascites / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009318:Natriuresis / Q000502:physiology*; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type