atrial-natriuretic-factor and Retinal-Artery-Occlusion

We measured plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in 20 patients with impaired retinal circulation in order to monitor hypervolemic hemodilution. In 18 control subjects, plasma ANP levels averaged 37.4 +/- 7.3 pg/ml and 30.0 +/- 5.4 pg/ml before and after an i.v. infusion of 250 ml of HAES 6% over 3 hours. In 8 of 20 patients, plasma ANP exceeded the highest value of 87 pg/ml in the controls at the end of the first infusion. In the group B, ANP increased from 103 +/- 21.6 pg/ml to 142 +/- 12 pg/ml before and after the infusion. In the remaining 12 patients (group A), plasma levels of ANP were 41.1 +/- 8.6 and 44.8 +/- 6.3 pg/ml at the start and the end of the first infusion of HAES. All patients received 500 ml of HAES daily for 8 days. In group B, hemoglobin was significantly lower on day 8 (11.7 +/- 0.48 versus 13.2 +/- 0.38 mg/100 ml) compared to group A (p less than 0.005). Similarly, hematocrit and serum protein was reduced to a greater extent in group B compared to group A indicating intravascular volume expansion. Measuring plasma ANP-levels might be of value to identify patients with reduced tolerance to hemodilution therapy.

Topics: Aged; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Blood Proteins; Blood Viscosity; Blood Volume; Female; Hematocrit; Hemodilution; Hemoglobinometry; Humans; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Retinal Artery Occlusion; Retinal Vein Occlusion