The Effe'et of Digoxine on Plasma Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

The effect of digoxine on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (pANP) ıvas investigated in 12 patients (4 women, 8 men, age range: 48-76 years) with conges-tive heart failure. Of these patients, 10 (83%) had higher pANP lcvels !han apperently healthy 10 con-trols after ıvitholding the drug.1Vhereas during treat-ment, this value was 8 (66%). After 7 days of digox-ine witholding pANP levels increased from initial values (94 ± 33 pg/ml) to 173 ± 67 pglml (p<0.001),whereas plasma aldosterone (PA) and cor-tisole (PC) values decreased from initial values (91 ± 38 pglınl for PA; 11.4 ± 3.6 for PC) to 75 ± 35 pg1 ml (p>0.05), 9.5 ± 2.8 pg1d1 (p<0.05), respectively. Additionally, urinary 24-h sodium excretion increased after witholding the drug (p<0.001).