Hormonal changes in patients with severe chronic congestive heart failure treated by ultrafiltration

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), antidiuretic hormone (ADH), plasma renin activity (PRA), and circulatory haemodynamics were studied in five patients with chronic congestive heart failure undergoing ultrafiltration on two consecutive days. The patients were in the New York Heart Association class IV, and were considered candidates for heart transplantation. A mean of 3.3±0.5 litres of fluid was removed during each ultrafiltration. Plasma ANP concentration remained unchanged during ultrafiltration: 369 ±151 pg/ml at start and 316+116 pg/ml at the end, while plasma ADH concentration and PRA increased from 5.1 ±2.1 to 7.5 ±3.4 pg/ml (P