Plasma Concentration of Atrial Natriuretic Factor in a Patient with Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia

Abstract

To the Editor: Striking polyuria may follow paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.^{1 2 3} Reflex diuresis and natriuresis with tachycardia in dogs have been proposed,⁴ since another putative mechanism, antidiuretic hormone, was shown not to change after rapid sequential atrioventricular pacing and could not account for the saluresis. Atrial natriuretic factor,^{5 , 6} strategically located in the atria, may have a role in polyuria associated with paroxysmal tachycardia. A recently developed radioimmunoassay^{7 , 8} has permitted us to measure the factor in a patient with paroxysmal tachycardia.A 39-year-old white woman was admitted to the hospital for investigation of episodes of palpitations and dizziness. A total thyroid-ectomy had . . .