PLASMA ATRIAL-NATRIURETIC-PEPTIDE DURING SPONTANEOUS BRONCHOCONSTRICTION IN ASTHMATICS

The aim of this work was to establish the role of endogenous ANP durin g a spontaneous asthma attack. Forced expiratory lung volume in 1 s (F EV1), cardiovascular parameters, and plasma ANP, cAMP, and cGMP were m easured for 60 min before and 10 min after treatment with a bronchodil ator in IO asthmatics. The results show that in the presence of modera te bronchoconstriction, FEV1 was 54 +/- 3% (+/-SE); ANP levels initial ly were slightly elevated at 47 +/- 10 pg/ml and decreased to 26 +/- 3 pg/ml (p < 0.05) over 60 min, with no change in FEV1. Following salbu tamol inhalation, FEV1 increased to 77 +/- 4% with no change in ANP. W e conclude that endogenous ANP does not act as a bronchodilator in ast hmatics with moderate bronchospasm.