Human hypertension is characterized by a lack of activation of the antihypertensive cardiac hormones ANP and BNP.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to investigate plasma levels of circulating cardiac natriuretic peptides, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type or brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), in the general community, focusing on their relative differences in worsening human hypertension.


BACKGROUND
Although ANP and BNP are well-characterized regulators of blood pressure in humans, little is known at the population level about their relationship with hypertension. The authors hypothesized that hypertension is associated with a lack of activation of these hormones or their molecular precursors.


METHODS
The study cohort (N = 2,082, age >45 years) was derived from a random sample from Rochester, Minnesota, and each subject had a medical history, clinical examination, and assessment of different plasma forms of ANP and BNP. Patients were stratified by blood pressure. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess differences in natriuretic peptide levels in worsening hypertension.


RESULTS
Compared to normotensive, BNP(1-32) and N-terminal proBNP(1-76) (NT-proBNP(1-76)) were significantly decreased in pre-hypertension (p < 0.05), with BNP(1-32) significantly decreased in stage 1 as well (p < 0.05). Although proBNP(1-108) remained unchanged, the processed form was significantly increased only in stage 2 hypertension (p < 0.05). ANP(1-28) remained unchanged, while NT-ANP(1-98) was reduced in pre-hypertension (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The authors demonstrated the existence of an impaired production and/or release of proBNP(1-108) along with a concomitant reduction of BNP(1-32) and NT-proBNP(1-76) in the early stages of hypertension, with a significant elevation only in stage 2 hypertension. Importantly, they simultaneously demonstrated a lack of compensatory ANP elevation in advanced hypertension.
Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York 10065, USA. fim9007@nyp.org
Fima
F
Macheret
Denise
D
Heublein
Lisa C
LC
Costello-Boerrigter
Guido
G
Boerrigter
Paul
P
McKie
Diego
D
Bellavia
Sarah
S
Mangiafico
Yasuhiro
Y
Ikeda
Kent
K
Bailey
Christopher G
CG
Scott
Sharon
S
Sandberg
Horng H
HH
Chen
Lorenzo
L
Malatino
Margaret M
MM
Redfield
Richard
R
Rodeheffer
John
J
Burnett
Alessandro
A
Cataliotti
D000368:Aged; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*
D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor