ATRIAL-NATRIURETIC-PEPTIDE AND ITS POTENTIAL ROLE IN PHARMACOTHERAPY

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a 28 amino-acid polypeptide secret ed into the blood by atrial myocytes after atrial pressure and distens ion. Although its role in humans is not clear, it can produce a variet y of physiologic effects including vasodilatation, natriuresis, and su ppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis. These actions are potentially useful in a variety of pathologic states such as hyperten sion and congestive heart failure, and diverse methods to augment the effects of ANP in these states have been devised. The results are exci ting and, despite some problems, may lead to the pharmacologic use of enhancement of ANP actions in several clinical disorders.