title: Natriuretic peptides: molecular biology, pathophysiology and clinical implications for the cardiologist.
abstract: Natriuretic peptides (NPs) counter the effects of volume overload or adrenergic activation of the cardiovascular system. They are able to induce arterial vasodilatations, natriuresis and diuresis, and they reduce the activities of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the sympathetic nervous system. However, in addition to wall stress, other factors have been associated with elevated natriuretic peptide levels. Since 2000, because of their characteristics, NPs have become quantitative plasma biomarkers of heart failure. Nowadays, NPs play an important role not only in the diagnosis of heart failure, but also for a prognostic purpose and a guide to medical therapy. Finally, a new drug that modulates the NP system or recombinant analogs of NPs are now available in patients with heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Masarone
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buono
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gravino
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Golia
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ammendola
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Del Giorno
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santangelo
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bossone
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pacileo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Limongelli
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002309:Cardiology / Q000379:methods*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000502:physiology*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides