Plasma natriuretic peptides during supraventricular tachycardia: A study in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia

Aims: To characterize the plasma levels of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT), we measured the plasma levels of these peptides before and during tachycardia. Methods: We included 10 consecutive patients scheduled for ablation of typical AVNRT without structural heart disease. Catheters were inserted in the femoral artery, femoral vein, and coronary sinus (CS) prior to the ablation procedure. Blood samples were drawn before and after 3 min of tachycardia to measure plasma levels of ANP and BNP. Right atrial pressure (RAP) was measured at baseline. Results: Of the 10 patients, in three patients it was not possible to induce tachycardia leaving a total of 7 patients available for analysis. Mean age of the seven included patients was 40 ± 12 years (mean ± SD), five were female. ANP levels increased significantly during tachycardia in the artery (p = 0.0009) and vein (p = 0.003), but only borderline in CS (p = 0.09). BNP levels did not change during tachycardia in any location. Conclusion: ANP levels measured in the peripheral circulation increased acutely during tachycardia due to AVNRT. BNP levels did not increase.