Natriuretic hormones (atrial and digitalis-like) in patients with arterial hypertension during exercise]

Blood levels of natriuretic hormones (atrial natriuretic peptide and digitalis-like natriuretic factor) were measured in 93 patients with Stages I and II essential hypertension and 31 healthy individuals. The baseline level of digitalis-like natriuretic factor was higher in the patients with Stage II essential hypertension than in the healthy individuals. This parameter was normal in the patients with Stage I hypertension. The concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide was not greatly different in the patients from that in the healthy persons. Water and salt loads were reported to affect the blood levels of natriuretic hormones. The levels of the hormones were shown to be correlated between them and with blood pressures and the activity of the renin-angiotension-aldosterone system. It was suggested that the natriuretic hormones might play a compensatory role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.