Plasma-circulating levels of natriuretic peptides in patients with bone and soft tissue injuries

To evaluate the release and possible role of N-terminal end of atrial natri uretic factor (ANF) prohormone (proANF-1-30) and C-terminal end of ANF proh ormone (aANP-1-28) in patients with soft tissue and bone injuries, 20 patie nts with soft tissue injuries, 18 bone-fractured patients, and 21 healthy c ontrols were examined. Samples were collected from patients within 24 h aft er injury. Plasma level of proANF-1-30 and aANP-1-28 were higher in orthope dic patients than the soft tissue injury patients compared to controls (P < 0.005, P < 0.05, respectively). proANF-1-30 was over 15-fold greater than aANP-1-28 in the healthy control samples. These data hypothesized that the concentration of proANF-1-30 may be related to tissue damages in man. (C) 2 000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.