Plasma Levels of Atrial Natriuretic Factor in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

Abstract

To the Editor: Mammalian atria contain atrial natriuretic factor, which appears to be associated with atrium-specific granules. Atrial natriuretic factor has been shown to possess a variety of important biologic activities, including natriuresis,¹ relaxation of vascular smooth muscle,² and reduction in aldosterone secretion.³ This raises the possibility that atrial natriuretic factor may play a part in the regulation of volume homeostasis and may be involved in the pathophysiology of water and electrolyte disorders. Recently, Schiffrin et al.⁴ and we⁵ independently found that plasma atrial natriuretic factor levels are definitely increased during atrial arrhythmias. Here we report the circulating levels . . .