Does longstanding atrial fibrillation decrease plasma ANP and N-ANP concentrations in patients with advanced congestive heart failure with low LVEF?
Longstanding atrial fibrillation in patients with advanced heart failure is associated with decreased plasma ANP and N-ANP concentrations, suggesting impaired atrial neurohormone production due to degenerative changes.
In patients with advanced CHF with low LVEF plasma ANP and N-ANP concentrations decrease during longstanding AF. This finding agrees with the concept that longstanding AF leads to impaired ability of the atria to produce these neurohormones due to inherent degenerative changes.
Berg et al. (Sat,) studied this question.