Cardiovascular Function during Brain Natriuretic Peptide Infusion in Man

To investigate the cardiovascular effects of pathophysiological levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), 7 healthy subjects were submitted to equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography in baseline conditions and during BNP infusion at increasing doses (4, 8, 10 and 12 pmol/kg.min for 20 min each). BNP induced a progressive, significant reduction in left ventricular end diastolic volume, stroke volume and end systolic volume and an increase in ejection fraction and heart rate. Cardiac output, arterial pressure and peripheral vascular resistance were unchanged. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system, as indicated by the significant increase in plasma norepinephrine levels, probably played a contributory role in the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis. These results indicate that BNP, at pathophysiological plasma concentrations, influences cardiovascular homeostasis in man.