Influence of plasma alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide on natriuretic and diuretic effects in patients with nephrotic syndrome

The physiological mechanism regulating secretion of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha hANP) was studied by measuring plasma alpha hANP (P alpha hANP) with radioimmunoassay during water immersion (WI). Twelve healthy volunteers and sixteen patients with nephrotic syndrome were immersed in water for 4 hours. During WI, alpha hANP level and urinary cGMP excretion (UcGV) increased significantly both in volunteers and patients, the urinary volume (UV) and urinary Na excretion (UNaV) also increased significantly. The mean peak values of alpha hANP and UcGV in volunteers were significantly lower than those in the patients, whereas the mean values of UV and UNaV in the former were significantly higher than those in the latter. The increase in alpha hANP level in volunteers correlated positively with the increase of UNaV, UV and UcGV during WI. The close correlations between the increased alpha hANP level and the increased UNaV, UV and UcGV was shown in the patients. These results suggest that alpha hANP is released into the circulation by acute central hypervolemia and plays a physiologically important role in maintaining water and electrolytes homeostasis in normal subjects and that the increased alpha hANP level in nephrotic syndrome makes compensatory regulation in water and electrolytes disorders.