Atrial natriuretic peptide in bronchial asthma.

Regulation of ion transport across the airway mucosa may be involved in the mechanisms producing hyperreactivity and asthma. Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) has been proposed to participate in the pathogenesis of asthma, and it has been found to have a bronchodilatory effect on asthmatic patients. Experimental evidences suggest that ANP also has some effect on fluid accumulation in the lungs. We hypothesise that ANP may also play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma through changes in the transport of water and ions across the airway epithelium.