Effects of Long-Term Intravenous Administration of Adrenomedullin (AM) Plus hANP Therapy in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: A Pilot Study

Background: It was reported previously that 30 min administration of adrenomedullin (AM) improves hemodynamics in chronic stable heart failure patients. The present study was designed to examine whether long-term AM + human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) administration can be used as a therapeutic drug in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in clinical setting. Methods and Results: Seven acute heart failure patients (74 ±5 years) with dyspnea and pulmonary congestion were studied. AM (0.02 μg · kg-1 · min-1) + hANP (0.05 μg · kg-1 · min-1) was infused for 12 h and then hANP (0.05 μg · kg-1 · min-1) was infused for 12 h. Hemodynamic, renal, hormonal and oxidative stress responses were evaluated. AM + hANP significantly reduced mean arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure and systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance without changing heart rate, and increased cardiac output for most time-points compared with those at baseline. In addition, AM + hANP reduced aldosterone, brain natriuretic peptide and free-radical metabolites compared with those at baseline (all P