OBJECTIVE We prospectively tested the hypothesis that atrial enlargement and increased level of atrial natriuretic peptide, N-terminal atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide would predict atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS Eighty-eight elective coronary artery bypass grafting patients had preoperative echocardiographic assessment. The level of...

1. Brain natriuretic peptide is a new natriuretic hormone with striking similarity to atrial natriuretic peptide, but there are no previous data concerning its clearance in man. Two pathways of clearance for atrial natriuretic peptide are recognized: degradation by neutral endopeptidase and binding to atrial natriuretic peptide clearance receptors. We have examined the effect of candoxatril, an...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of direct current cardioversion therapy on the plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide and to determine the main factors that influence the change in plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels in patients with atrial fibrillation. BACKGROUND In atrial arrythmias, whether the fast atrial rate itself or the associated elev...

AIMS Resting plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and B-type natriuretic peptide rise with left ventricular dysfunction, but little is known about effects of cardiac ischaemia on atrial natriuretic peptide and B-type natriuretic peptide levels during exercise. We investigated exercise levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and B-type natriuretic peptide in patients with suspected angina to...